The aftermath of a car accident can be confusing, stressful, and overwhelming.
Many urgent and unexpected concerns can suddenly emerge at once.
The two most important things to do after a car accident are to receive appropriate medical attention and schedule a consultation with a personal injury lawyer.
Unfortunately, some accident victims don’t see a doctor or attorney after their accident because they don’t think they need to, or they simply forget.
Between taking care of everything else, it’s easy to forget to take care of yourself.
But this could be a costly mistake, both for your health and your ability to collect compensation for your accident injuries.
Medical attention after a car accident is a time-sensitive manner, and so is speaking to an injury attorney.
Seeing a Nashville car accident chiropractor and an accident lawyer as soon as you can after a car wreck is essential for your medical recovery and for receiving the maximum amount of compensation for your accident injuries and other damages.
In the article below, we will discuss when and why you should see a doctor and a lawyer after a motor vehicle accident.
When to See a Doctor After a Car Accident
If your injuries themselves aren’t enough to get you to see a doctor after your car crash, the tactics your insurance company will use to determine compensation should be.
One of the most important pieces of data that your insurance company will use to determine compensation is whether or not you sought medical attention in a “reasonable” amount of time after the accident.
Many insurance companies expect accident victims to receive medical care in the first 72 hours after their accident.
If you wait longer than that, you risk a severe reduction of the compensation you can receive.
If you can’t schedule an appointment with your primary care physician in 72 hours, visit an urgent care clinic instead.
Most cities will have a few to choose from.
While you may pay more out-of-pocket at an urgent care clinic, you can submit the bill to your insurance company for compensation, or you can be reimbursed in a personal injury claim.
For insurance purposes, seeing a chiropractor within the first 72 hours after your accident is treated the same as seeing a primary care doctor because chiropractors can treat several types of common injuries after car accidents.
And just because you don’t immediately feel injured doesn’t mean that you aren’t.
Some injuries, like open wounds and broken bones, are immediately apparent after the accident.
But other injuries, like soft tissue injuries or a traumatic brain injury, can take hours, days, or weeks to present symptoms.
That’s why you should never wait to see a doctor, no matter how you feel.
And if you see a doctor right away when you feel fine, always go back for a follow-up if you start to notice symptoms you didn’t notice before.
Depending on the unique circumstances surrounding your accident, delaying or missing follow-up appointments can jeopardize your insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit.
Tips for Getting Fair Compensation from Your Insurance Company
There are a few things all injury victims should do after an accident to receive fair compensation for their damages.
First, you should take detailed notes of your injuries and the medical treatments you receive.
Keep note of all the names and contact information for the medical providers you visit after your accident.
You should also keep all of your receipts for any medications you take after the accident, both prescription and over-the-counter drugs.
You should also keep track of all of the assistive devices you need, like crutches, back braces, slings, bandages, and other medical supplies.
Most lawyers recommend keeping a journal that documents your medical treatment and injuries as your recovery progresses.
Write down everything, like your pain levels, how much sleep you are getting, and any other inconveniences you experience from your injuries.
It’s also important to keep track of all of the communications you have with medical professionals about your injuries.
Keep any emails, notes, calendars, appointment reminders, and other documentation of your medical care in your journal.
You can also be reimbursed for travel expenses in your personal injury claim, so keep track of your travel expenses.
Contact a Lawyer After a Car Accident
Once you’ve seen a doctor and started your medical treatment, the next thing you should do is contact a personal injury lawyer.
It’s never too early to speak with a lawyer after an auto collision, especially if any of the following apply to your situation.
- You’ve been injured
- There is a dispute as to who is at fault
- Your accident involved other motorists, pedestrians, or cyclists
- Your wreck occurred in a construction zone, school zone, or another protected area
- You don’t think the police report accurately describes what happened
- There are concerns regarding your insurance policy, liability limits, or lack of insurance from the other driver
- Your insurance company lowballs the initial offer, fails to communicate properly, or takes too long to respond to your questions
Sometimes minor accidents like fender benders may not require the assistance of an attorney (but you should always seek medical care).
Even if you were involved in just a minor collision, though, it still doesn’t hurt to consult with an attorney.
Many personal injury attorneys offer free initial consultations with no strings attached.
During these consultations, the attorney will listen to your story and then give you an honest assessment of your case.
After that, you can decide if your unique situation would benefit from hiring an attorney.
Contact Advanced Injury Care Clinic
Several urgent things need to be taken care of right away after an accident, but nothing is more important than getting the medical care you need.
See a car accident chiropractor can help with your physical recovery as well as your financial recovery.
At Advanced Injury Care Clinic, our accident chiropractors are trained to work with those who have been injured in car accidents.
The team at Advanced Injury Care Clinic will diagnose your injuries and design a personalized treatment plan for them.
Advanced Injury Care Clinic also works directly with experienced accident attorneys to help injury victims make a complete financial recovery.
If you have recently been involved in an accident, schedule your Free Consultation with Advanced Injury Care Clinic today to begin your road to recovery.
Click the button below to get started.
Table of Contents
- When To See A Doctor After A Car Accident
- Tips for Getting Fair Compensation from Your Insurance Company
- Contact A Lawyer After Your Accident
- Contact Advanced Injury Care
