Seeking Medical Treatment After A Car Accident

If you're hurt in an accident, the most obvious course of action is to get medical treatment. But seeking medical treatment after a car accident has implications that go beyond just your physical health. People often get pressure from their lawyer to get treatment, even though their lawyer may not disclose that medical treatment from an accident isn't always covered by health insurance, and that your settlement amount may depend on the treatment you get.

Here are 5 things to know about medical treatment in the context of a personal injury accident:

1. The most obvious of them all, but worth saying over and over again: Get immediate medical attention when you need it and never get treatment if you don’t. Follow your own body and what your trusted doctor tells you. If you do nothing but follow this one piece of advice, you’ll have a much better chance of feeling better after your car accident.
2. Don’t let your personal injury lawyer tell you whether you’re hurt or how you should feel. Personal injury lawyers make more money the more treatment you obtain. It’s in their financial interests to make sure you get more medical treatment, unfortunately, sometimes even if you don’t need it.
3. Right after an accident, it’s natural to be overwhelmed and not realize the extent of your car accident injuries. Sometimes injuries aren’t felt for a few days after an accident. Even still, it’s really important you have a record of your injuries, when you started feeling them come on, and who you saw to help you with them. These records are critical in helping prove that you actually had car accident injuries.
4. If you do go to a doctor, make sure you tell them you were in an auto accident. They may document more information in your file, have special instructions to follow with your insurance, if you have it, or otherwise can help you figure out whether you should see a specialist.
5. Don't get medical treatment you don't need. Some PI law firms send all of their clients to get an MRI, even when not medically necessary. Ultimately, you'll likely have to pay these bills out of your settlement, so only get the treatment your doctor says you need. If your car accident lawyer tells you getting a treatment will be "good for your case," defer to your doctor instead.

Auto Accident Injuries Can Show Up Late

As mentioned before, sometimes injuries from car accidents may not show up right away. Two common examples of these types of injuries are tissue damage and concussions.

Signs and symptoms you should look out for:

• Difficulty balancing
• Blurry eyesight
• Feeling lightheaded
• Feeling nauseous
• Headaches
• Feeling tired even after sleeping
• Struggling to remember things
• Having a foggy brain
• Low energy levels

It's important to remember that if you experience any of these symptoms or any other serious injuries after a car accident, you should see a doctor as soon as possible, ideally within 72 hours of the accident. Don't take any chances with your health.

Moving Forward After an Accident

Being able to move forward with your life after an accident is as much about getting the medical care you need as it is getting compensation for your pain and suffering and other out-of-pocket expenses. We hope this article has helped you understand what to prioritize (and not) when it comes to your medical care.

Should You Hire a Lawyer for Your Personal Injury Claim?

Open the claim — but use Mighty to do it. Mighty's AI builds your case file, opens your claim with the insurance company, negotiates a settlement for you to approve, and routes you your payment if the offer is fair. For most accident claims, that's all you need — and you keep 100% of your settlement.

Only hire a lawyer when you need one, which is rarely in the first month or two after an accident. Waiting has two big advantages. First, you may not need one at all, in which case avoiding their fees leaves you with 33% to 40% more of your settlement. Even if you do need one, waiting until you have more information about your case — including an offer from insurance — gives you leverage to negotiate the lawyer's fee down from the standard rate.

A lawyer is genuinely necessary when injuries are serious, liability is disputed, multiple parties are involved, or the insurance company refuses to engage. For those cases, Mighty's marketplace helps to match you with a vetted lawyer who only gets paid on the increase to your existing offer.