The immediate aftermath of a car accident can be overwhelming and confusing. The initial shock and rush of adrenaline often means that individuals do not realize that they’ve been hurt until the effects wear off. While victims with severe injuries will often be transported to a local hospital for emergency treatment, others may be treated and released at the scene or may be advised to visit a doctor on their own for a more thorough checkup.
Whether you are transported to the hospital right away or if you need to seek medical attention on your own, it is important to know what you should do and say when receiving medical treatment after a car crash. Read more below to learn about the steps you should take.
When to Go to the Hospital After an Accident
After a car accident, your injuries may require immediate emergency medical treatment. If this happens, you likely will not be able to take pictures of the crash scene, vehicles, and other information that could be valuable in the future for insurance claims and potential injury claims. If you can, ask a family member or friend to go to the scene of your accident to take pictures for you as soon as possible.
If your injuries are less severe, quickly gather information before seeking medical attention. Take photos of anything and everything involved in your accident, including injuries, car damage, road conditions, weather conditions, skid marks, and more. Exchange contact information with the other drivers involved and any witnesses there may have been. Call police to make an official report about your accident. Be careful not to admit to fault, apologize for the accident, or state that you are fine, as these statements could hinder your ability to recover compensation.
Once you have collected this evidence, go to the hospital as soon as possible, even if you do not think at first that you are hurt. Some severe injuries involve delayed symptoms but may become life-threatening if left untreated.
What to Do and Say When You Get to the Hospital
Once at the hospital, give a full account of the accident and your injuries to the nurse or doctor. Don’t just focus on the places that hurt the most.
Even the slightest ache can be a symptom of a deeper problem. If the symptoms of an injury become much worse later but you did not mention it to your doctor, the insurance company may try to deny your claim.
Be sure that the health care providers know that you were just involved in an accident. Describe as best you can what happened to your body during the crash. For example, you might say that your knees slammed into the dashboard or your head was jerked back and forth by the impact.
How Can Jebaily Law Firm Help Me?
If you’ve been hurt in a crash, you should seek legal representation as soon as possible. An experienced injury attorney can investigate the crash and secure important evidence for you.
The attorneys at Jebaily Law Firm can help you in many ways after a car accident. We can evaluate medical records, review car accident evidence, and we have extensive experience working with experts on crash reconstruction.
Our Florence car accident lawyers fight to recover treatment and rehabilitation costs as well as lost income and other accident-related losses. To find out more about how Jebaily Law Firm can help you today, contact us by phone or online to schedule a free consultation.
