Car accidents, regardless of their severity, can have a long-lasting impact on your physical health and mental well-being. In the chaotic moments after a car accident, it is easy to underestimate the potential seriousness of your injuries. Adrenaline often masks pain and injury symptoms, leading many individuals to dismiss the need for medical evaluation. However, failing to get prompt medical care after a car accident can prove to be a costly mistake in terms of your health and your right to sue the party responsible for the accident.
Car Accident Injuries That May Have Delayed Symptoms
Common car accident-related injuries that might not present symptoms immediately include:
Concussions: A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury that can be caused even by minor impacts. Common symptoms include headaches and dizziness, which might not appear right away in some cases.
Internal Bleeding: Internal bleeding can result from trauma to internal organs. Symptoms might include abdominal pain, dizziness, and swelling, which might not be immediately noticeable.
Whiplash: Whiplash injury occurs when your head is rapidly jolted backward and forward during a collision. Symptoms like neck pain, stiffness, and headaches might develop over several hours or days, which can cause you to overlook it initially.
Hairline Fractures: Hairline fractures and other small fractures might not be immediately apparent but can lead to significant pain and functional issues after some time.
Herniated Discs: The sudden impact of a car accident can result in disc herniation. Symptoms like back pain, numbness, or tingling in the limbs might not appear until later.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): The emotional and psychological impact of a car accident can manifest as anxiety, nightmares, or flashbacks, which might not become evident until some time after the accident.
Dangers of Delaying Medical Care after a Car Accident
Following a car accident, delayed medical care can put your health at risk and impact your right to sue the at-fault party as well.
How Delayed Medical Care Can Affect Your Health
One of the biggest risks associated with delaying medical care after a car accident is that it can exacerbate your injuries and prolong your recovery period. Many injuries like whiplash, internal organ injuries, and concussions might not be apparent immediately after the accident. Without prompt medical attention, these injuries can escalate into severe medical conditions, leading to more complex treatments and longer recovery times.
For example, whiplash, which might initially cause only mild discomfort, can lead to chronic pain and mobility issues if not addressed early. Similarly, in the absence of timely medical intervention, internal bleeding can worsen and lead to potentially life-threatening infections and other complications.
Moreover, delayed medical care can impede the effectiveness of treatment, which can prolong the recovery process and make it more complicated. It is why early medical intervention is so important, as it often leads to better outcomes and a smoother recovery process.
How Delayed Medical Care Can Affect Your Personal Injury Compensation
Prompt medical documentation is essential to establish a direct link between the accident and your injuries and to prove the extent and severity of your injuries. Delayed medical care can lead to gaps in the timeline of injury and treatment, which can lead to disputes about the causation and severity of your injuries and weaken your case against the at-fault party significantly. If you are unable to provide a justifiable and satisfactory explanation for the delay in treatment, the insurance company might refuse to pay you what you deserve.
Notably, the at-fault party’s insurance company will likely scrutinize your medical records in great detail to evaluate the validity and value of your claim. Even the smallest mistake on your part can be used by the insurance company to reduce your recoverable compensation.
If there is an unreasonably long delay in seeking treatment on your part, it might raise questions about the severity of your injuries or lead to suspicions that your injuries might not have been caused by the accident. It can create significant challenges in the claims process and make it harder for you to obtain fair compensation for your injuries and other losses.
Delaying medical care can also delay the overall legal process and make it harder for you to meet the necessary deadlines and pursue the compensation you are entitled to.
When is it Too Late to See a Doctor After a Car Accident in Colorado?
In Colorado, there is no specific law mandating when to get medical attention after a car accident. That said, insurance companies expect accident victims to seek medical care within a reasonable timeframe after an accident. Here is a brief overview of the general guidelines for seeking medical treatment after an accident.
General Timeframe
24 to 72 Hours: Most insurance companies consider it reasonable for accident victims to seek medical attention within 24 to 72 hours of the incident. In exceptional cases, this timeframe can be extended up to a week.
Beyond the Typical Timeframe
Beyond 72 Hours: If you fail to get medical care within 72 hours, the insurance company might start to question the causation and severity of your injuries. They might ask you for explanations or evidence justifying the delay in treatment. These might include:
Medical Records: Insurance adjusters might request detailed medical records to determine whether there was a valid reason to delay medical care.
Statements from Healthcare Providers: Your physician might have to provide a statement explaining the nature of your injuries and why there was a delay in diagnosis or treatment.
Personal Statements: You might have to provide a statement explaining the reasons for the delay, whether due to lack of symptoms or other factors.
If you are wondering how long after a car accident to see a doctor, the answer is as soon as you can. Prompt medical care can not only improve your chances of making a full recovery but also establish a clear link between the accident and your injuries and make it easier for you to get the settlement you deserve from the at-fault party.
How an Experienced Colorado Car Accident Lawyer Can Assist with Medical Referrals and Injury Documentation
A seasoned Colorado personal injury lawyer can play a key role in managing the aftermath of a car accident, particularly when it comes to ensuring you get the medical care you need and documenting your injuries.
Medical Referrals
Connecting You with Specialists: Personal injury lawyers tend to have a network of trusted healthcare providers including physicians, surgeons, and rehabilitation specialists. Your lawyer can refer you to medical professionals and specialists who have extensive experience in treating accident related injuries and make sure you get the medical care you need.
Coordinating with Healthcare Providers: Your lawyer can facilitate and coordinate communication between you and your healthcare providers to make sure your medical care needs are met. This might include helping to coordinate appointments and addressing any concerns that might arise during your treatment.
Injury Documentation
Collecting Medical Records: Your lawyer can assist in obtaining and organizing all your medical records, including diagnostic reports, treatment plans, physician’s notes, prescriptions, and bills. This documentation is essential for proving the extent and impact of your injuries.
Maintaining a Detailed Medical History: Your lawyer can make sure that all aspects of your medical history related to the accident are accurately recorded and preserved. This might include tracking ongoing treatments, follow-up visits, and any changes in your condition over time.
Expert Testimony: If needed, your lawyer can consult with medical experts, who can provide testimony regarding the severity and long-term effects of your injuries. It can be used to demonstrate the impact of your injuries on your personal, social, and professional life and support your claim for a fair settlement.
Meeting Insurance Requirements: Your lawyer can collect and compile all the necessary medical documents and make sure they meet the standards required by insurance companies, which can minimize the risk of claim disputes or denials.
Get Our Skilled and Resourceful Colorado Car Accident Lawyers on Your Side
If you have been injured in a car accident, the experienced Colorado car accident attorneys at Ganderton Law LLC are ready to assist you in your fight for justice and financial compensation. We bring more than 40 years of combined legal experience to the table and we have handled all types of car accident claims, from single vehicle accidents to multi-vehicle pileups.
Our founder, Dave Ganderton, is one of the leading personal injury lawyers in Colorado and has a track record of success few others can boast of. His background as a former prosecutor and insurance defense attorney allows him to build strong claims that cannot be picked apart by claims adjusters looking to minimize payouts.
Do not wait to get the legal help you need. We can handle all aspects of your claim, from connecting you with top-notch medical professionals to negotiating for a settlement, and making sure you are sufficiently compensated for your injuries and other tangible and intangible losses. Call us today at 719-867-4447 to schedule a free consultation with one of our dedicated Colorado car accident lawyers.
