Most people don’t seek medical treatment after an accident as they believe their injuries are not severe. Regardless of how you feel after an accident, you should see a healthcare professional immediately. If you are looking to file a personal injury claim, receiving medical attention is imperative. Medical treatment validates your claim as well as shows your willingness to recover. This also establishes a foundation of treatment received and indicates future expenses.
After a personal injury incident, such as a car accident, your No. 1 priority should be to receive medical care. In many cases, particularly those that may benefit from the services of a personal injury attorney, more than one doctors visit will be necessary. Doctors may require a series of tests and follow-up visits to document the recovery process, and it’s important that you keep up with these appointments.
A dedicated consistency of care will absolutely benefit you down the line. On the other hand, a gap in treatment could adversely affect your settlement negotiations in a personal injury case. A gap in treatment usually occurs when the pain is not greater than the inconvenience of obtaining care. Treatment is usually one of the focal sources of evidence in a claim, and clients that do not make time for a doctor make the process difficult. If life events are more important to the client than receiving the crucial treatment, those gaps will almost assuredly come back to affect them.
Another major reason for a gap is lack of health insurance. There is a misconception that if you do not have health insurance that you cannot seek treatment. If you were injured due to someone else’s negligence and do not have health insurance, you are able to receive treatment after the incident. You must satisfy the balance of your medical bills before you receive your portion of the settlement.
Working with your doctor to determine a course of treatment leads to comprehensive documentation and a roadmap to getting better. At the end of the day there is nothing more important than your physical well-being.
