Car Accident Injuries: When Is It Too Late to See the Doctor?

The severity of injuries after a car accident can vary wildly depending on what happened.

Depending on your state, you have between 72 hours and 14 days to see a doctor after a car accident before you risk losing insurance coverage for your injuries.

Always seek medical treatment as soon as possible after a serious collision.

Remember, in the immediate aftermath of an accident, the full extent of your injuries is not always obvious.

In our experience, adrenaline and shock can mask the true harm suffered in a crash, and some lingering injuries worsen with time if not treated promptly.

However, if you don't see a doctor within the required time, insurers may argue to deny your claim or dispute how hurt you are.

When is too late?

Don't wait more than 2 weeks to seek medical treatment - an sooner is better.

Every day you wait risks your ability to recover full compensation for the harm you suffered.

After a collision, going to the doctor will help ensure your injuries are properly diagnosed, treated, and will protect the value of your accident claim.

The longer you wait to seek treatment, the harder it is to prove your injuries were accident-related.

If you have questions, the car accident attorneys at Lawsuit Legal are standing by to provide you a free legal consultation. If you've been injured, share the details of your case and to review your legal options for moving forward.

It's never too late to consult a doctor if you are experiencing pain, limited mobility, or worsening symptoms after a wreck. There are several potentially life-threatening conditions that can develop after even a minor crash that need to be ruled out. Your health and safety come first after any potential impact it may have on your personal injury claim.

Remember, if the ambulance doesn't take you to the ER immediately, find a doctor after a car crash who can properly treat your injuries and give you a complete health assessment.

Can I Still File a Personal Injury Claim If I Don't Seek Treatment Right Away?

YES,   you can still file a personal injury claim, but it becomes more likely the insurance company will argue your injuries were not accident-related and makes it harder to prove a causal relationship.

If you wait too long to see a doctor, the insurance company may argue that injuries were pre-existing or not crash incurred. The more time between the crash and your seeking medical help, the harder it is to prove the severity of your injuries and tie them directly to the crash event in a legal claim.

It's not necessarily too late if you didn't seek care within the 72-hour to 14 days recommended deadline. Typically personal injury protection PIP coverage in a no fault state has an eligibility deadline of 72-hours, while up to 14 days is provided in at fault states. Every car accident case is different; speak with a personal injury attorney to review your legal options.

There is a wide range of injuries, in our experience, that we commonly encounter suffered by car accident victims. Every crash is unique, and the circumstances and severity of what happened can affect people differently. Our lawyers have decades of experience helping clients nationwide and regularly help claimants who have suffered the following injuries:

Bruises, Lacerations, and Soft Tissue Damage

Cuts, scrapes, and bruises are commonly suffered by people in both minor accidents and more severe crashes. Pain, soreness, and stiffness are to be expected in the days after the impact. The force of a collision can be traumatic for the bodily tissues. After a significant car accident, bruising is to be expected. Blood from damaged capillaries can take days to reach your skins surface. It's common to experience a painful tenderness in the bruised areas, depending on the severity of the trauma. How long pain lasts after a car crash varies based on the nature and severity of injury sustained and overall health of the victim at the time of the accident. In severe cases, the damage to muscles, ligaments, and nerves and cause tenderness, swelling, and pain for days to weeks after the impact and can cause mobility issues that can worsen without prompt treatment.

Traumatic Brain Injury

A blow to the head, or the violent movement of the head and neck in a crash, can cause damage to the sensitive soft tissues of the brain and surrounding membranes. Brain injuries can range in severity from a minor concussion to potentially life-altering injuries resulting from the trauma suffered. Brain bleeds after a car accident, if not diagnosed early, can prove fatal.

Back Injuries

Back injuries are regularly encountered in auto accident victims. The sudden and forceful impact can cause the body to move unnaturally, resulting in several painful conditions. Herniated discs can occur from a vertabrae rupture. Spinal fractures, spinal stenosis, and lumbar sprains are all common injuries car accident victims suffer. A broken back can cause life-long mobility issues and require extensive treatment and long-term care. Even muscle tears and other soft tissue injuries in the back can cause significant pain and affect mobility for an extended period after a wreck.

Whiplash Injury

Especially common in rear-end accidents, whiplash injuries occur when the force of impact causes the head and neck to violently whip forward and backward, straining muscles and ligaments in the neck and back. Whiplash can be very painful, impacts mobility, and limits range of motion. In some cases, a crash victim's pain and discomfort will worsen in the days to weeks after the collision as swelling and inflammation set in.

Internal Bleeding & Organ Damage

It's important to rule out impact injuries like internal bleeding and organ damage when the pain and bruising are in the abdominal area. Significant chest, abdomen, or head bruising may indicate a more serious condition. Organ damage, internal bleeding, and brain bleeds are all serious conditions that require immediate attention from a physician to prevent potentially life-threatening conditions.

Exactly how long you will feel hurt after a crash will be unique to the circumstances of your accident injury. If you suspect your aches and pains are lasting longer than they should, share this with your car accident attorney, who can help ensure you get the specialized treatment you require. They can help you see a doctor and ensure you get medical tests, scans, or x-rays necessary to diagnose any potential underlying conditions that have been overlooked.

As it relates to recovering compensation after a car accident, the importance of seeking medical attention as soon as possible cannot be understated. The physical examination will document your condition and sustained injuries when you visit the ER or urgent care. These medical records will then be used by your lawyer to substantiate your injury claims and extent of harm suffered. Most car accident personal injury claims will be settled without filing a lawsuit. The insurance company will review the facts and evidence of your demand letter and are more likely to offer a fair settlement when you seek prompt medical treatment.

Your car accident lawyer will work to build an evidence-backed case for recovery of maximum compensation for all economic and non-economic damages that have legal merit. Don't provide the insurance company an argument to deny your claim by waiting too long to see a doctor. As accident attorneys, we've seen countless examples of car accident victims struggling to recover compensation because they didn't see a doctor immediately after their accident.

• ER:    The emergency room at the local trauma hospital is likely the best option after a car accident. In a severe collision, you will likely be rushed to the ER in an ambulance, but even in the case of injuries that are not life-threatening, the emergency room is a good option to get examined and treated quickly.
• Urgent Care:    In the case of minor injuries, an urgent care clinic is a good option to get a physical examination and any required treatment. Most urgent care facilities accept walk-in patients and can rule out any potential complications and refer you to a specialist for treatment if necessary.
• Doctor:    If you have a primary care physician or doctor and they are available to assess your condition within the fixed timeframe after an accident, you can. In some cases, claimants opt to see a chiropractor after their general doctor assessment. In most cases, compensation for chiropractic care deemed medically necessary after a car crash can be recovered in a personal injury claim from the at-fault motorist's liability insurance.

Seeking prompt medical care provides the peace of mind you need, so you don't have to worry about something more serious.