After a car accident, if you’re able to walk away from the incident with nothing more than a few scratches, or none at all, many people assume that everything’s fine. While everything may seem fine on the outside, you may have suffered some form of internal injury. Getting checked out at a hospital after an accident of any kind is an important step to protecting your health and right to claim compensation. In this post, the team at Gabriel Law will step into the shoes of your accident lawyer in New York and explain why it matters to get yourself checked at a hospital after an accident.
Why Some Injuries Don’t Show Symptoms Immediately
When you are experiencing an accident or other similarly stressful situations, your body will release hormones like adrenaline, cortisol, and endorphins. Collectively, these hormones increase your body’s energy, block pain signals, and help manage psychological stress. Since your body is effectively in overdrive, you might not immediately feel any pain or discomfort and may even walk away from an accident like you're the man of steel himself.
However, it is a mistake to assume that no pain means no damage. In fact, internal injuries such as whiplash, concussions, and trauma will only start to show symptoms after a few hours or days after the accident. If you’ve suffered any type of internal injury, you will only begin to feel the symptoms once your hormone balance returns to normal.
The Medical Benefits of Getting Checked After an Accident
Even if there are no external injuries, there is a high chance you may have suffered some form of internal injury. Once the injuries develop, you may experience symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, nausea, breathing difficulties, neck and back pain, numbness, etc. If you experience one or more of these symptoms after the accident, you must immediately get yourself checked out if you haven’t already.
The sooner you get yourself checked out, the sooner a doctor is able to detect any hidden injuries and issue treatments that prevent complications. Medical professionals can then monitor your recovery and make changes and initiate follow-up care based on your progress. Remember, health is wealth. Don’t let false assumptions come back to bite you.
How Medical Records Help Your Injury Claim
When you go to receive medical treatment after an accident, the hospital has to keep detailed records of your injuries and treatments. As your New York City auto accident attorney, we do not exaggerate when we say that your medical records are what pins your injury claim together.
When you are claiming compensation after an accident, you must prove the extent of the injuries you have suffered and why you deserve to be compensated. When you present medical reports, it helps connect the accident to the injuries and shows the extent of the injuries you have suffered. It will be difficult for your insurance company to deny or reduce your claim when you present solid evidence such as medical records.
What Happens if You Skip or Delay Medical Treatment?
When you skip or delay your medical treatment, your injuries can worsen, which can lead to severe long-term, even permanent consequences. At the same time, it becomes difficult to prove damages. This is because your insurance company can argue that the damages you have suffered are not entirely connected to the accident but that your delay is what caused the damage. In short, skipping or delaying your medical treatment can reduce your compensation after an accident.
Conclusion
If you’ve been in a car accident, you should always get yourself checked out. Even though there are no external injuries, you cannot discount the possibility of internal injuries. Getting yourself checked after an accident will not only save your life but also save your chances of walking away with proper compensation.
If you’ve been injured in a car accident, navigating the insurance and legal processes can be quite the challenge. But have no fear, because Gabriel Law is here to help. As a personal injury law firm NYC, we handle car accident cases on a daily basis. Our team is intimately familiar with the insurance and legal processes of New York, and we will do everything in our power to protect your rights and get you the compensation you deserve. Get in touch with us today and schedule your free and confidential consultation.
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