After a serious car crash, you might be tempted to go home and rest. That would be a big mistake, one that could endanger your insurance claim and your health. No matter how serious the accident, you should always go to the doctor immediately after a car crash.
Prioritize Your Health
Car accidents often cause blunt trauma. While visible blood or serious pain warrants calling an ambulance from the scene, other injuries may not be obvious for a few days.
Common car accident injuries include whiplash, internal bleeding, and damage to the knees. These are all “invisible” injuries that would not be obvious without a proper medical exam.
Even if you don’t think you were hurt in a car accident, a doctor can evaluate potential pain points and identify emerging injuries before they get worse. Going to the doctor also tells the insurance companies that you took the initiative to get proper treatment and identify injuries.
Field Insurance Claims
If you wait to go to the doctor, your insurance company could argue that your injuries are not as severe as you claimed. This is especially devastating if you suffered a latent injury, like whiplash or organ damage, that may not be obvious until days or even weeks after the accident.
The safest course of action is to get to the doctor as quickly as possible. Some suggest waiting no more than three days after the accident, but we suggest going to the doctor within 24 hours.
By all means, treat yourself with a day of self-care and relaxation after a car accident, but make sure you go to the doctor first.
If you or someone you love suffered serious injuries in an auto accident, you might need an attorney who puts people first. If you’d like an experienced Sacramento injury lawyer from Piering Law Firm to evaluate your case, please send us an email or call (916) 476-2399.