If you've been injured in a car accident, you need to seek medical treatment. Delaying treatment, even due to financial hardship, can jeopardize your personal injury claim and lead to lack of future compensation.
When you or a loved one has been injured in an accident, seeking treatment promptly is important. So important, in fact, that many law firms will not accept personal injury cases where the victim has not sought proper medical treatment or who has large gaps in treatment after the accident.
Insurance companies need to be convinced that 1) there are injuries and 2) the injuries were caused by the accident. If you are not treating, you have no proof of an injury besides your pain, which you cannot show the insurance adjuster - but if you get medical attention, there are medical providers and medical records to help back up your claims. And if you do not seek medical attention in a timely manner after an accident, the insurance adjuster will question how bad the injury can really be as well as the real cause. To avoid these problems during your personal injury claim, follow these steps:
1. Do not postpone seeking treatment, even if you think your injuries are minor.
2. Take photos of your injuries ASAP: for swelling, bruising, cuts, bandages, etc.
3. Keep a journal to record all pains and progressions. Include all D.'s visits and time off work.
4. Don't assume any pains are unimportant - report them to your doctor.
5. Do not sign any releases right away - if you sign an insurance release, and then your injuries get worse, you will not be able to receive further compensation.
If your injuries are serious or long-term, you should contact a personal injury attorney in your state for help. We practice in Oregon, and we help accident victims everyday, which means we know adjusters' tricks. Your insurance adjuster will most likely make you a low offer for your injuries, but with an attorney you get the experience and legal expertise necessary to negotiate or litigate until they give you a fair settlement.
