Following a car accident, emergency medical personnel may arrive on the scene and may advise you to be transported to the hospital in an ambulance for emergency trauma care. In this situation, there should be no question that you should heed their advice and go directly to the hospital for treatment. However, crash victims who do not need ambulance transport may be less sure of what to do regarding medical care following an accident. It is important to realize that undergoing a medical examination is often essential for different reasons.
Your Physical Well-Being
Many victims may choose to not seek any type of medical attention, perhaps because their injuries do not seem “that bad” or maybe they are trying to “tough it out.” In other situations, symptoms of injuries may not be readily identifiable and so victims may believe there was no reason to go to the emergency department. In the majority of cases, however, accident victims should seek a medical evaluation to ensure there are no injuries of which they are unaware and that they receive the treatment they need. Doctors have diagnostic tools and imaging tests that can identify an injury even if you were not aware of one. For example, you may think you are simply disoriented due to the stress of the collision when in actuality, you have a serious concussion that is causing the disorientation and other cognitive effects. To make sure all of your injuries are addressed and treated, it is better to err on the safe side and visit a doctor.Having Accurate Medical Records
If your accident was caused by another party and you later seek compensation for your medical bills and other losses, you will be expected to prove the following (among other things):- That your injuries stemmed from the accident
- The severity of your injuries and the necessity of your treatment and/or the need to miss work due to the nature of your injuries.