Seeking Medical Treatment Immediately After an Accident is a Must
Posted by
Shanley MonroeAugust 27, 2009 1:37 AMTags:
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Jack and Jill go up the hill in their brand new Honda Civic to get a 12 pack of Aquafina from Circle K. Just as they are pulling out of the parking lot, Hansel and Gretel, who are running from the witch with the gingerbread house in their brand new Chevy Cobalt, slam into them, causing the car to careen down the hill. You know the rest. Jack breaks his crown (ouch), and Jill comes tumbling after.
The average person believes that Jack’s fractured skull and Jill’s inevitable injuries resulted from their accident. If, for example, Jill begins to suffer from whiplash shortly after the accident, it’s fair to guess how she got it. However, when you’re dealing with insurance companies, fair guesses are not enough. Let’s say Jill tries to file a claim. She needs to provide her medical records to prove that her injuries resulted from this accident. Prior medical records may be relevant to prove that she was not already injured, and Jill definitely needs to provide evidence of her treatment after the accident.
Let’s assume, however, that Jill does not visit the doctor right after the accident. Following her wretched spill down the hill, she walks away feeling fine, so she waits to make an appointment. Her injuries don’t become symptomatic for over a month. Only then does she make an appointment. Even though Jill is certain she didn’t have any other accidents or traumatic incidents, the insurance company may refuse to consider her injuries related to the accident. Most companies will only consider treatment if it takes place within four to six weeks of the accident. Otherwise, they may claim that your injuries are unrelated to the accident itself.
The bottom line is that the more time that elapses between an accident and you seeking medical attention, the harder it is to prove that your injuries came from the accident. Even if you feel fine after an accident and do not think you are hurt, you may be well advised to pay the doctor a visit to get checked over. That way, if you develop pain later and have to return, your medical records will still show that you first sought treatment within days of the accident, not months.
Seek medical treatment immediately after an accident, and if possible, try to avoid falling down hills.