Getting into a car accident can be disorienting. People who have gotten into an accident may feel confused, scared, and unsure of what to do next.
One of the first things to do after an auto accident is to see if you or anyone else has been injured. If you have been injured, and even if you haven’t, you should seek immediate medical attention. This way, you can be assessed for injuries by a medical professional.
Depending on the type of auto insurance policy you have and where you live in the United States, emergency room visits may be covered by personal injury protection (PIP) coverage. With your health and well-being at stake, it’s critical to make safety your first priority after a car accident.
When To Go To The Emergency Room
About 4.4 million people in the U.S. each year are injured from motor vehicle crashes that are serious enough to require medical attention.
For some people, the decision to call 9-1-1 after an accident does not always seem straightforward.
One of the most common reasons for this is cost. Without health insurance, ambulance rides and medical treatment costs can be tough to face. People may also feel unsure of whether seeking emergency care is necessary.
If anyone involved in the accident has serious injuries, call 9-1-1 right away.
Emergency responders will be able to dispatch an ambulance to you and get a police officer on the accident scene to write up an accident report. Emergency medical technicians (EMTs) or paramedics who arrive onscene can then take the injured person to the nearest (or preferred) emergency room.
If you don’t seem injured or have suffered minor injuries, this does not mean you’re in the clear. In the absence of life-threatening injuries, consider going to an urgent care facility, or your primary care physician as soon as possible to get checked out.
Why You Should Seek Medical Care As Soon As Possible
There are several reasons why it’s important to seek medical care right away after a car accident, regardless of whether you have been seriously injured.
If you don’t believe you need emergency care, an urgent care center may be another option to get assessed for accident-related injuries. Here are some reasons why seeking medical care immediately is highly recommended after getting into a car accident.
Symptoms Of Some Injuries May Appear Later
There are a number of injuries a person can sustain after getting into a car crash, and not all symptoms may be obvious right away.
Concussions, for instance, are a common type of injury suffered by people who get into car crashes. A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury (TBI) that can develop regardless of whether you’ve hit your head.
During a car accident, you may get a concussion simply from having your head jerk suddenly, causing the brain to hit the inside of the skull.
Symptoms of a concussion—such as balance issues, clouded thinking, and nausea—may not appear right away. This is also true of injuries like whiplash, which may have symptoms that appear days or even weeks after the accident.
Adrenaline can also mask initial symptoms of car accident injuries. Adrenaline is a fight-or-flight hormone released by the body in dangerous, stressful, or exciting situations. This hormone allows the body to respond to danger more quickly. It also blocks the body’s pain receptors.
If you have adrenaline pumping through your body, you may not notice some of the initial pain caused by accident injuries. Failing to get immediate medical care for crash-related injuries may cause worsened symptoms or other health consequences.
Auto Insurance Claim Requirement
If you’ve been in a car accident, it’s important to get checked out by a doctor as soon as possible. This will protect your health and legal rights to compensation from your insurance company.
Emergency room visits and medical services for accident injuries are often covered by personal injury protection (PIP). This type of coverage is required for drivers in some states, such as Florida. PIP coverage kicks in after getting into a collision with another motor vehicle, object, or pedestrian.
It is also commonly bought as a form of supplemental insurance to cover medical costs from a car accident. Getting reimbursement through PIP may require that you seek medical attention within a certain amount of time.
The amount of time you have to get medical attention that’s eligible for coverage will depend on your insurance policy’s requirements and your state’s auto accident laws.
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Benefits Of Hiring A Lawyer After Getting Into A Car Accident
After getting into a car accident and getting necessary medical care, your auto insurance will require you to file a car accident claim. This allows you to seek compensation for accident-related property damage and medical bill reimbursement.
While auto insurance companies are supposed to act in good faith, some insurers may try to wrongfully deny or underpay a car accident injury claim. This is done by some insurers to avoid paying the total amount of damages owed.
If you’re having trouble receiving coverage from your auto insurance company for emergency medical care, a personal injury lawyer may be able to help. A personal injury lawyer can go through your auto insurance policy with you and explain your legal rights to coverage.
At Florin|Roebig law firm, our car accident lawyers have extensive experience. We can help individuals file a personal injury claim or dispute a claim that has been wrongfully denied or undervalued by an insurance company.
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Contact Us For A Free Consultation
The car accident lawyers of Florin|Roebig law firm can protect your legal rights to coverage after a car accident and help you get the compensation you may be owed.
We can walk you through the steps of submitting your auto insurance claim. We’ll also help you dispute the claim if necessary to ensure you’re given the payment you’re entitled to under available insurance policies.
If you or a loved one has been in an accident, don’t wait to seek medical care. Call us today at (800) 226-6581 to schedule a free consultation with one of our award-winning personal injury attorneys to discuss your legal options.
