We sometimes get questions from people who have been involved in automobile accidents asking whether they should go to see a doctor. The people who ask us this are often asking because they are not feeling any pain. The short answer to the question is yes - you should a doctor as soon after an automobile accident as possible, even if you do not feel any pain.
There are several important reasons to get yourself checked out by a doctor after being involved in a car accident. First, and perhaps most importantly, your health could be at risk. Some types of injuries that commonly occur in car accidents are not always noticeable right away, even if they are very serious. Doctors are skilled at examining automobile accident victims and looking for many different kinds of injuries. If your doctor discovers that you are injured, they can begin the process of treating your injury so that you can recover from it. If the doctor finds that you are not injured, they will ask you to contact them right away if you feel pain or experience signs of an injury later on.
Seeing a doctor after an accident can also save you money. When insurance adjusters calculate the value of a claim for injuries that is filed in connection with a car accident, they consider many variables, including when you were seen by a doctor after the accident. If you wait longer than seventy two hours, it may be considered a "delay in treatment", which could drastically reduce the amount of the settlement that you are offered. It is possible that your primary care provider may not be able to see you within the seventy two hour time frame. Since your ability to recover financially from the injuries caused by the accident depends in large part upon being seen within seventy two hours, you may have to be seen by someone else. Fortunately, you have options. You could ask to be seen by someone else in your primary care provider's practice, you could go to an urgent care facility, or you could even get an appointment with a chiropractor. Also, do not let a lack of health insurance prevent you from seeing a doctor after your accident. Tell the office staff at the doctor's office that you are not insured, and ask them what your payment options are. They may be able to find a way to help you pay for your visit.
Automobile accidents can cause serious injuries, so it is important to see a doctor as soon as you can. Your health depends on it, as does your potential for recovering financially from any injuries that you sustained in the accident. The Kentucky Personal Injury Attorneys at Goeing Goeing and McQuinn, PLLC can help you to obtain the recovery that you deserve. To learn more, please call our office or connect with us online.