When Should I Consult A Doctor After A Car Accident

When Should I Consult a Doctor After a Car Accident? 

If you have suffered bodily injuries, you should consult a doctor immediately after a car accident. This is true whether your symptoms are severe or hardly noticeable.

In some instances, you may have suffered injuries that are not readily apparent to you, such as in cases of concussion or other subtle internal injuries. Seeking immediate medical attention right away could help you get the treatment you need to avoid your condition worsening. Prompt medical attention can also help you protect your legal rights to compensation should you bring a claim for personal injuries.

The Right Time to Seek Medical Care After a Car Accident

The right time to consult with a doctor is immediately after an accident. If you have any pain, stiffness, or swelling whatsoever, any delay could be harmful to your health and your claim for compensation.

Obtaining immediate medical care can prevent claims that you failed to act reasonably to prevent injuries from worsening. This starts with seeking medical care right away to alleviate your pain, treat your condition, and prevent your injuries from worsening over time.

Symptoms of Serious Injuries May Come Later

Sometimes, the symptoms of a motor vehicle accident can be delayed. One of the most severe conditions that can carry delayed symptoms is a traumatic brain injury. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a variety of symptoms, from headaches to unexplained personality changes, could occur weeks or months after an accident.

The reality is that you cannot control when your symptoms appear following a motor vehicle accident. Once you begin to feel pain and discomfort or other symptoms following an accident, seek medical care right away. Use a “better safe than sorry” approach. If you are unsure of whether you are simply shaken up or have been injured in an accident, it is in your best interest to seek medical care as soon as possible.

Delayed symptoms can indicate a more serious injury and a long road to recovery. Careful evaluation and follow-up are necessary to ensure that you obtain proper treatment. An accident attorney from our firm will discuss your rights and give you advice on how to fight for maximum compensation if you experienced serious injuries due to the fault of another.

Questions to Ask Your Doctor to Help Your Case

Your doctor’s consultation is about more than just receiving a diagnosis. When you see your doctor following an accident, be sure to ask the following questions:

  • What treatment is necessary? Following your prescribed treatment is a vital part of your recovery and your personal injury claim.
  • When can I return to work? Returning to work before you are ready may be hazardous to your health and handicap your injury case.
  • What is my long-term outlook? Your doctor could give you an idea of whether or not your injury will impact your ability to care for yourself or maintain employment in the future.

Do not Settle Your Claim Before You Know the Full Extent of Your Injuries

Often, the at-fault party or parties will attempt to resolve your claim by making a settlement offer soon after your accident. They may attempt to settle your claim before you fully understand the scope of your injuries.

At Dansker & Aspromonte Associates LLP, we understand that you may be tempted to accept a settlement offer in order to get the accident and its aftermath behind you. It is important to understand that you should not consider a settlement offer until you are clear about how the injuries you have sustained will affect you in the future. Once you have accepted a settlement, you will be prevented from obtaining additional compensation even if your condition worsens significantly.

You may require months or years of rehabilitative therapy, for example, and the compensation you seek should reflect those future losses.

For that reason, settling an accident claim should never occur until you consult with your treating doctor or doctors, and seek the advice of an experienced personal injury lawyer.

Medical Documents can Support Your Case for Compensation

Seeking immediate medical care is important for your legal claim in a number of ways. First, your treatment will result in medical records that can serve as vital evidence of the injuries that resulted from your accident. These records can corroborate your claims and establish how severe your injuries were.

Other documents and items that could help prove your claim include:

  • Photos and videos of the accident and your injuries
  • X-rays, MRIs, and other diagnostic tests
  • Medical expert reports and testimony
  • Your receipts from any purchases you made because of your accident
  • Proof of lost wages
  • Eyewitness statements
  • Police and accident reports
  • Hospital and EMS records

Consider Working with an Accident Attorney for Help

If you have suffered serious injuries in an accident, take these simple steps in order to protect your legal rights:

  • Call the police and report the accident
  • Request medical attention at the scene, if possible
  • Take the names of any eyewitnesses
  • Try to take photographs of the scene of the accident
  • Do not give any statements to the at-fault party or parties
  • Do not post on social media about the accident or your injuries
  • Follow up with all medical appointments to document your recovery
  • Take photographs of any visible injuries
  • Contact a qualified personal injury attorney immediately to discuss your rights

If you are unsure of your first steps in the aftermath of a car crash, the team at Dansker & Aspromonte Associates LLP is ready to answer any questions you might have. When you select our firm as your legal counsel, our primary goal is to protect your rights and ensure you receive the compensation you deserve.

Contact Our Attorneys for a Free Case Review

Don’t delay. There are deadlines that limit your rights. If you fail to bring your claim by the deadline, you could be prevented from recovering the financial compensation you deserve.

To learn more, call us. We accept all of our cases on a contingency fee basis which means that you will not be required to pay us any money upfront. We only earn a legal fee when you recover compensation.


Call or text (646) 692-0204 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form.


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