Many people who suffer injuries in auto accidents do not go to a doctor right away. Instead, they try to tough out the injury and see if they can recover on their own.
This can be costly over the long term. People often don’t feel the full extent of an injury immediately after an accident.
Make sure you are all right
With the high cost of medical plan deductibles and copays, many people avoid seeking medical care for what they consider minor injuries. Even if your injury seems minor, however, it is important to see a doctor and make sure.
You may not feel the full extent of an injury at first for several reasons:
- The body’s natural reaction to an accident injury is to produce adrenaline. As a result, you may not feel pain.
- You may not feel injuries to soft tissues until days later when tissues swell.
- Minor symptoms such as feeling dazed or headaches could a symptom of a traumatic brain injury.
- You may have suffered a dangerous hairline fracture.
Minor injuries can become major health problems if you do not seek prompt care. Therefore, it’s important to seek medical care and to follow your doctor’s treatment plan until you feel better.
What the insurance company will say if you do not seek medical treatment
You may be entitled to compensation for accident injuries from the other driver’s insurance company. However, if you fail to seek treatment or discontinue treatment before you have recovered, the insurance company will not take your injury seriously.
You may tell the insurance company that you are injured. However, without medical documentation, the insurance company will not believe you. Most personal injury lawyers offer a free initial consultation to answer your questions about insurance after an accident.