You may still have a case if you did not see a doctor about your car accident injuries immediately, but it may be more challenging to prove your claim and recover compensation. Seeing a doctor as soon as possible documents your injuries and ties them to the collision.
If you did not yet receive a medical assessment, diagnosis, and treatment for any injuries you sustained, you should do so as soon as possible. However, there is a chance you could recover financial damages even if you did not suffer injuries that required treatment.
The Importance of Getting Medical Care After an Accident
There are several reasons why personal injury lawyers encourage accident victims to seek medical care as soon as possible. These include the following:
- Immediate treatment helps injuries heal faster.
- You can rule out serious harm that is not always visible, such as brain or internal injuries.
- It protects your rights by documenting your injuries.
- Your medical records link your injuries to the accident.
However, if you did not realize you were injured or skipped getting an evaluation immediately, you may still have options. If it has only been a few days or weeks following the collision, there is still time to see a doctor.
An insurance claim may still be possible if you did not see a doctor and only suffered injuries that did not need medical care. A personal injury attorney from our team can likely help you build this type of claim and seek compensation for your documented losses.
For a free legal consultation, call (337) 777-7777
Ways to Get a Medical Evaluation and Treatment Following a Collision
There are several ways accident victims can get medical care following an accident. You will need to choose which option is better for you based on your injuries and pain, how long it has been since the crash, and other factors. Your options include the following:
Let First Responders Get You to the Closest Hospital
If you are still on the scene of an accident and the paramedics who responded recommend emergency medical care, you should take their advice and allow them to take you to the hospital.
Go to a Local Emergency Department
If you believe you may have broken bones or other injuries that need quick treatment, a friend or family member can take you to a local emergency department for care.
See Your Doctor for an Evaluation
If you do not believe you have any serious injuries, or if it has been several days or weeks since your collision, you can see your family doctor for an assessment. They can treat minor injuries such as strains, sprains, and lacerations. They will also document your injuries for your claim.
Visit an Urgent Care or Walk-in Clinic for an Assessment
If you do not believe you have suffered serious physical harm but need to be evaluated to rule out injuries and document your case, visiting a walk-in clinic may be a good option.
Recoverable Damages Include Medical Treatment and Pain and Suffering
Some people choose not to see a doctor for treatment or get cleared from injuries following a traffic accident because they worry about the cost. However, medical treatment and care are generally recoverable damages in collision cases.
You should not have to pay these out-of-pocket as long as you can prove the other driver caused the crash. You can seek to recover your medical bills and related expenses, including:
- Ambulance transportation to the hospital
- Emergency department visit
- Doctor’s care
- Treatment and hospitalization
- Prescription drug costs
- Ongoing treatment and care needs
- Future medical care
Additional recoverable damages may include:
- Property damages
- Lost wages and future income losses
- Pain and suffering
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A Personal Injury Attorney from Our Team Can Assess Your Legal Options
Whether you have documentation of any injuries following your collision or not, you may have suffered other losses. You could qualify to file an insurance claim to recover these. Your attorney may also be able to prove your injuries even if you did not see a doctor, as long as there is other strong evidence to support your case.
If there were injuries and the other driver’s insurer does not want to pay, a personal injury lawsuit may be necessary. However, you only have up to a year to begin this process under CC §3492. It’s best to get started right away so you do not miss this deadline.
Our firm in Louisiana provides complimentary case reviews and represents victims of car accidents based on contingency. A contingency fee arrangement means we do not charge clients upfront for representation. In fact, we only take a fee if we win the case, which is a percentage of what our team is able to recover.
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Speak to One of Our Attorneys Today for Free
To learn more about what you can do to recover compensation after your Louisiana traffic accident, contact Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers for a free case consultation.
Call now to discuss your accident and any injuries with a team member for free.
Call or text (337) 777-7777 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
