If you or a loved one have sustained an injury caused by the careless or negligent actions of another driver in or around the Chicago area, your health and well-being are the number one priorities. The reality is that many people are unsure of whether or not they should seek immediate medical care after a car accident occurs. Here, we want to discuss how quickly you need to go to a doctor after a car accident in Chicago and the importance of continuing medical care as you work to seek compensation from the at-fault party. If you have been involved in an accident, you may be eligible for compensation, speak to a Chicago car accident lawyer at Seidman, Margulis & Fairman, LLP today for a free case evaluation.
Seek Immediate Medical Care Following a Car Accident in Chicago
Vehicle accident victims in and around the Chicago area need to seek medical care as soon as possible after the crash occurs. In some cases, this means letting emergency medical services conduct an evaluation and transport the victim to the hospital. Some injuries are simply too severe to risk delaying seeking medical care.
However, the situation becomes more complicated for injuries that are not immediately apparent. Unfortunately, this is a scenario that occurs regularly after car accidents. The very nature of a crash is likely to send adrenaline into overdrive, which means that our bodies often do not even realize we have been injured. Sometimes, car accident victims do not even realize they have sustained an injury until hours or days after the collision occurs. By then, significant damage may have progressed to an irreversible point.
That is why we always recommend that any person involved in a vehicle accident see a doctor as soon as possible. If a victim does not go to the hospital in an ambulance, then they should go to an emergency clinic or their family physician as soon as they leave the car accident scene.
When Chicago car accident victims seek immediate medical care, they are not only ensuring their health and well-being, but they are also establishing a direct link between their injuries and the crash. This is crucial, particularly when it comes to establishing a timeline of events that insurance carriers and legal teams will look at.
Continue all Follow-Up Care Recommended by a Doctor
Going to the hospital or doctor after a car accident and then not going again is usually a bad idea. In general, the most expensive part of a vehicle accident claim is the medical bills involved. However, victims will not be able to receive full settlements if they do not continue medical care until their doctor says they have reached maximum medical improvement.
If a car accident victim discontinues medical care before they have finished the treatment plan prescribed by their doctor, this will be taken as a sign by insurance carriers that the victim was not seriously injured in the first place. It is important for a crash victim to go to all follow-up visits, use any required medical devices, and attend any physical therapy or rehabilitation sessions that are recommended.
Do not Return to Work Until Cleared to do So
We understand that car accident victims may feel pressured to return to work to earn an income and support themselves and their families. However, if a crash victim returns to work before a doctor has cleared them to do so, this could jeopardize their insurance claim. Car accident victims should only return to work after their doctor says that it is safe for them to do so.