Some people are lucky enough to emerge from an accident relatively unscathed, or so they think. Even when you feel fine, getting medical attention is important.
You should go to the doctor immediately after an accident. You might have invisible injuries or injuries that have not yet revealed themselves. It also looks bad if you sue for damages but do not feel compelled to seek medical attention. The sooner a doctor checks you out, the faster they might identify unseen injuries. Your medical records will also be more accurate when needed in a lawsuit. Even if you feel relatively fine after an accident, you can still sue for damages. Injuries do not need to be physically painful to deserve fair compensation. Certain injuries can be deceptive and feel minor, only to worsen over time. Whiplash, concussions, and internal bleeding may not be immediately obvious but may be diagnosed by a doctor.
If you were in a collision, call our Georgia car accident lawyers at Howe Law at (844) 876-4357 and schedule a review of your claims, even if you feel your injuries are not serious.
Why is it Important to Get Medical Care Even if You Feel Fine After an Accident in Georgia?
Getting immediate medical attention after an accident is crucial whether or not you feel pain. Unseen injuries are a common problem. These injuries are often diagnosed by doctors because patients come in complaining of other injuries. You might not be in significant pain after an accident, but that does not mean you are uninjured. As discussed in further detail below, some injuries do not reveal themselves until days or weeks after the accident, and some do not come with serious pain.
You will likely need evidence of your injuries when you file a lawsuit or an insurance claim. A big part of this evidence is your medical records. If you do not go to a doctor or wait a while before seeing one, your records might be less accurate and more easily challenged. If your medical records are as accurate as possible, our Stonecrest, GA personal injury lawyers might be better able to help you get fair compensation.
Finally, even if you are uninjured or have minor injuries, it looks bad if you pursue legal action but never see a doctor. Seeing a doctor indicates your concern for your well-being after an accident. If you do not bother seeing a doctor, the defense might argue that your damages cannot be serious.
When to Get to a Hospital After an Accident in Georgia
It is best to get to a hospital and see a doctor immediately after an accident, even if you do not feel badly hurt. Getting in with a doctor quickly is good for your physical health and potential legal claims. As discussed above, if you are evaluated by a doctor shortly after your accident, your records are more accurate and reliable.
If you wait a while before going to the hospital, you would have to worry about proving that any injuries detected by your doctor are from the accident, not some other accident or incident that happened later.
For example, suppose you do not go to a doctor until several weeks after an accident when your headaches become unbearable. Next, suppose you are diagnosed with a concussion. Since your diagnosis did not happen until weeks after the accident, the defense might challenge your claims and argue that the concussion might have been caused by something else that happened in the intervening weeks between your accident and hospital visit.
Can I Sue if I Feel Fine After an Accident in Georgia?
If you discover you are largely uninjured after you see a doctor, you might still have grounds for a lawsuit. Injuries do not need to be severe to be compensable in a lawsuit. Even if you only suffered minor bruising, scratches, and cuts, you can still sue for damages.
You might have damages other than physical injuries and medical bills, although you can claim your medical bills from your initial hospital visit among your damages. For example, after a car accident, you can claim the value of your damaged vehicle and any personal belongings inside the vehicle that were lost or destroyed. You might also claim non-economic injuries like emotional distress, humiliation, and mental anguish from the accident.
You might still have injuries and medical costs even if you feel fine. Not all injuries are painful, but that does not mean they should not be compensated. Even minor cuts, scrapes, and bruises need medical evaluation and care. Considering how expensive even a single hospital visit can be, especially for those without health insurance, you might incur significant costs.
Possible Injuries You Might Not Notice Right Away After an Accident in Georgia
There are a few common injuries that often do not make themselves known until later that you should think about. In car accident cases, whiplash is very common. While the condition often resolves on its own, it can be very painful. The thing is, many accident victims do not experience any whiplash pain for a few days. You should get to a doctor right after the accident to be diagnosed as quickly as possible.
A concussion is another injury that might not be apparent immediately after an accident. Concussions, like whiplash, are often very painful but tend to resolve with time. However, many accident victims experience debilitating headaches, memory problems, nausea, blurred vision, and other painful symptoms. A concussion is a brain injury, and you should see a doctor immediately after an accident, especially if you hit your head.
One of the most concerning unseen injuries is internal bleeding. This kind of injury might not come with significant pain, but it can be disastrous, even deadly. Internal bleeding occurs when you sustain an injury inside your body rather than outside. Blood often pools inside the body, causing serious complications. In severe cases, accident victims might bleed out and pass away if the bleeding is not diagnosed fast enough.
If You Were Hurt in an Accident, Call Our Georgia Personal Injury Lawyers Even if You Feel Fine
If you were in a collision, call our Georgia personal injury lawyers at Howe Law at (844) 876-4357 and schedule a review of your claims, even if you feel your injuries are not serious.
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