Over 394,000 car accidents happened in Florida last year, including over 3,100 fatal wrecks and over 164,000 injury crashes. Although numerous circumstances can distinguish one crash from the other, any accident can be confusing and disorienting for those involved.
Because of this, it’s not always easy to know what to do after an auto accident. You may wonder whether you should seek medical treatment, for example, if you don’t notice any obvious injuries or symptoms. However, seeking medical attention promptly after a car accident in Florida is essential for many reasons.
Why Initial Impressions Can Be Deceptive
Many people rely on their initial impressions of their injuries after an auto accident to decide whether to seek medical help. But injuries are not always external. Just because you do not notice any bruises or cuts does not mean you have escaped the accident uninjured.
It’s also common to experience a surge of adrenaline immediately following an accident of any severity. This adrenaline can mask symptoms of any injuries you did sustain and make you erroneously conclude you are not seriously hurt. It would not be until the adrenaline begins to wear off that you begin to experience pain and other symptoms associated with severe injuries.
Some conditions and injuries may not have obvious symptoms immediately after a wreck. For instance, you might experience a headache that goes away following an accident. It would not be until that headache returns and intensifies in the hours following your crash that you might suspect a more serious injury.
By then, you might have delayed the treatment of a traumatic brain injury (TBI), potentially hindering your chances of achieving a full recovery.
3 Reasons to Seek Medical Help Following a Car Wreck
Because you should not rely exclusively on how you feel right after an accident to decide whether to seek medical treatment, it is usually a good idea to seek medical treatment as soon as possible following an accident. This course of action provides you with three distinct benefits:
1. You Can Discover Asymptomatic Conditions
Your health can still be in danger even if you do not feel hurt or ill. There can be any number of reasons why you do not feel hurt following a wreck. However, none of these reasons mean that you cannot be at serious risk of medical complications from an undiagnosed injury.
Doctors and nurses at the hospital can take X-rays and other medical images to uncover the true extent of your injuries. You might be surprised to learn that you suffered:
- Broken bones
- Neck and spinal cord trauma
- Herniated or dislocated discs in your back
- Internal organ damage
- A traumatic brain injury
With many of these conditions, your prognosis improves the sooner the condition is discovered and treatment is commenced. For example, the damage from spinal cord trauma and traumatic brain injuries can become more serious and permanent the longer they go untreated.
Similarly, damage to your internal organs can be fatal if not discovered and treated immediately.
2. A Plan for Follow-Up Care Can Be Established
Getting prompt medical treatment does not guarantee that your condition will not worsen following your accident. However, meeting with a doctor can give you important information about what signs and symptoms to watch for and what to do if you notice any.
For example, suppose that you hit your head on the steering wheel in a crash. You might develop a bruise and have a headache following the accident, causing your doctor to diagnose you with head trauma.
Your medical team will likely instruct you to remain alert for a headache that does not get better, fainting, or seizures and return for follow-up care.
3. You Can Protect Your Legal Rights
Knowing how seriously you have been injured in a car accident is essential to protecting your legal rights if your injuries are severe. Although Florida is a no-fault car accident insurance state, you can file a lawsuit and pursue damages against an at-fault driver if you have sustained serious harm.
Having a medical professional diagnose you following a car accident can provide you with a definitive answer to whether you have been seriously injured. If you have, you will want to consult with a skilled Florida auto accident attorney immediately about your next steps.
Part of succeeding in any car accident claim you and your auto accident attorney file requires you to prove that the injury you sustained was caused by the car accident. The longer you wait to receive medical care and treatment, the more difficult it can be to prove this connection.
Even if you can prove a connection between the car accident and your injuries, your delay in seeking treatment can lead to a reduction in the compensation you receive. Delaying treatment can also lead to a finding that you are partly to blame for your injury’s severity.
Remember to Speak to a Florida Auto Accident Attorney
There are significant benefits to seeking medical care following any car crash. Doing so can not only prevent you from suffering serious and potentially irreparable harm after an accident, but it is also important for your legal rights. Your ability to receive the full amount of compensation you are entitled to can depend on whether you sought medical treatment promptly after an auto accident.
It is also critical not to wait to speak to an auto accident attorney. The sooner you speak to an attorney, the more likely vital evidence can be secured, which can directly influence the success of your case.
At Schrier Law Group, we are committed to fighting tirelessly for our clients’ rights. Once you retain our services, our experienced team of auto accident attorneys will investigate the cause of your accident and the severity of your injuries. We can help you seek compensation for the harm you’ve suffered.
Contact Schrier Law Group today to schedule a consultation with us.
