The moments following a car accident are overwhelming and confusing. Your heart is racing, you’re checking for damage to your vehicle, and you’re trying to process what just happened. In the midst of this chaos, many people make a critical mistake that can affect both their health and their legal rights: they assume they’re fine simply because they can walk away from the scene.
Across Mobile and the Alabama Gulf Coast, we see this situation repeatedly. People involved in serious car accidents decline medical attention at the scene, skip the emergency room visit, and go home thinking they’ve escaped injury. Days or weeks later, when pain and other symptoms develop, they discover that their “minor” accident has resulted in significant injuries that require extensive treatment.
Seeking immediate medical attention after a serious car accident isn’t just about your health – it’s also crucial for protecting your legal rights and ensuring you receive fair compensation if you need to pursue a claim. Understanding why this step is so important can help you make better decisions in those critical moments after an accident.
Should I Get Immediate Medical Care After A Car Accident?
The human body’s response to trauma can mask serious injuries in the immediate aftermath of an accident. Adrenaline and shock often prevent people from feeling pain or recognizing symptoms that will become apparent hours or days later. This is particularly true for some of the most common car accident injuries.
Whiplash and other soft tissue injuries frequently don’t manifest symptoms until 24 to 48 hours after the accident. These injuries can cause chronic pain, limit your range of motion, and significantly impact your quality of life if left untreated. Similarly, concussions and other traumatic brain injuries may not show immediate symptoms but can have long-lasting effects on cognitive function, memory, and overall well-being.
Internal injuries present another serious concern. The force of impact in a car accident can cause internal bleeding, organ damage, or other life-threatening conditions that aren’t immediately apparent. Even if you feel fine, these hidden injuries can be fatal if not diagnosed and treated promptly.
Beyond the immediate health concerns, seeking medical attention creates a vital paper trail that documents your injuries and connects them directly to the accident. This medical documentation becomes crucial evidence if you need to file an insurance claim or pursue legal action to recover compensation for your injuries.
Are Medical Records Important After A Car Crash?
Insurance companies and their adjusters are skilled at minimizing claims and finding reasons to deny or reduce compensation. One of their most effective tactics is questioning the severity of your injuries or suggesting that your injuries weren’t caused by the accident. When you delay seeking medical care, you’re essentially giving them ammunition to use against you.
Medical records created immediately after an accident serve as contemporaneous evidence of your injuries. These records establish a clear timeline showing that your injuries occurred as a direct result of the accident, not from some other cause or pre-existing condition. Emergency room visits, diagnostic tests, and initial treatment plans all become part of your case file and help demonstrate the extent of your injuries.
The attorneys at Tobias & Comer Law have seen countless cases where delayed medical treatment complicated the claims process. Insurance companies often argue that if someone was truly injured, they would have sought medical attention immediately. While this logic isn’t always fair or accurate, it’s a reality that can significantly impact your ability to recover compensation.
Common Mistakes People Make After Car Accidents
Many accident victims make well-intentioned but costly mistakes in the hours and days following their accidents. Understanding these common pitfalls can help you avoid them and protect both your health and your legal rights.
Refusing ambulance transport at the scene is one of the most frequent mistakes. Even if you feel fine, allowing paramedics to evaluate you and transport you to the hospital creates important documentation of your accident and any immediate symptoms or injuries. The cost of an ambulance ride is often covered by insurance and is minimal compared to the potential value of this documentation.
Delaying medical care because you “feel fine” is another costly error. As mentioned earlier, many serious injuries don’t present symptoms immediately. Seeing a doctor within 24 hours of your accident, even if you feel okay, allows for proper evaluation and creates the medical record you may need later.
Accepting quick settlement offers from insurance companies before seeking medical attention is particularly problematic. These offers are typically made before the full extent of your injuries is known and are designed to close your claim quickly for far less than you may ultimately need for medical treatment and other damages.
Failing to follow through with recommended medical treatment can also damage your case. If a doctor recommends physical therapy, specialist consultations, or diagnostic tests, following through with these recommendations demonstrates that you’re taking your injuries seriously and need the prescribed care.
How Tobias & Comer Law Can Help
The experienced attorneys at Tobias & Comer Law understand the complexities of car accident cases and the importance of proper medical documentation. Our team has spent decades helping Mobile-area residents navigate the aftermath of serious accidents and recover the compensation they need to rebuild their lives.
When you work with Tobias & Comer Law, we handle every aspect of your case personally, from start to finish. We can help you understand your rights, deal with insurance companies, and ensure that you receive appropriate medical care. Our attorneys have recovered millions of dollars for clients who were injured in car accidents.
We understand that dealing with injuries and insurance companies can be overwhelming, especially when you’re trying to recover from your accident. That’s why we work on a contingency fee basis – you don’t pay attorney fees unless we win your case. This allows you to focus on your recovery while we handle the legal complexities of your claim.
Our deep roots in the Mobile community and our relationships with local healthcare providers can also be valuable resources as you navigate your recovery. We know the best medical professionals in the area and can help ensure you receive the care you need.
Protect Your Future With Tobias & Comer Law
Seeking immediate medical attention after a serious car accident isn’t just about your health – it’s about protecting your future. The injuries you sustain in an accident can have long-lasting effects on your ability to work, enjoy life, and care for your family. Proper medical care ensures that these injuries are identified and treated promptly, giving you the best chance for a full recovery.
If you’ve been injured in a car accident in Mobile, Daphne, Spanish Fort, Fairhope, Foley, Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, Saraland, Satsuma, or anywhere else along the Alabama Gulf Coast, the attorneys at Tobias & Comer Law are here to help. We offer free consultations to discuss your case and can help you understand your options for recovery.
Contact us today at (251) 432-5001 to schedule your free consultation. Remember, we work on a contingency fee basis, so you don’t pay attorney fees unless we win your case. Let us help you get the medical care and compensation you deserve.