You were in a car accident, but you feel fine right now and do not want to go to the doctor. The concern you have, though, is that you may need medical care later, but you just want to put it off. How long do you have to go to the doctor after an accident and how can a Philadelphia car accident lawyer from Rand Spear The Accident Lawyer help you?
Going to the Doctor Immediately Is Always the Best Decision
In both Pennsylvania and New Jersey, there is no set deadline for when you have to go to the doctor after a car accident, which means you may be able to provide the injuries you have related to your accident even if time passes. That does not mean that it is ideal to do both for your safety and for the best outcome in your personal injury case. What is most important is having the best possible care for your health, even if you do feel okay right after the accident.
The key reason for this is that many types of injuries are not noticeable immediately after the accident, and they could still impact your health. That includes concerns like concussions and internal bleeding, both of which can be undetected for some time. If you do not get care for these conditions soon enough, it puts you at risk for complications, and, in some situations, it could be life-threatening.
There are key benefits to your case, too, if you go to the doctor right away. It helps to demonstrate that the injuries you have are directly related to the accident and not other types of incidents you may be involved in. It is very hard for the insurance company to refute care needs right after an accident happens.
Consider an Example of How Not Going Could Hurt You
A person is in a car accident where they are hit from behind, but they do not go to the doctor right away because they feel okay. They go back to their day, perhaps engaging in work activities, going to the gym, or playing a sport. They suddenly develop a life-threatening complication involving their cognitive function, but because they did not go to the doctor, the insurance company says they could have been hurt at work or in gameplay and, therefore, fights to claim.
There Is a Statute of Limitations to Consider, Too
In Pennsylvania and New Jersey, you have a two-year statute of limitations in personal injury claims. That means you have two years from the date of the accident to file a claim or to seek legal action against the party responsible for your losses. While this may seem like a long time, it can be much shorter than you realize when there is so much work to do.
If you wait even a few months after your accident, you will likely need to work with a personal injury attorney quickly to file your claim. It takes time to gather data and information to prove your case, and oftentimes, rushing is not ideal. You want to be sure there is ample time to gather the necessary information.
Another core factor is that the sooner you act, the more likely that valuable data will be available, including photos and video, witness statements, and actual evidence from the scene. If you wait too long, that information could be lost to you or harder to find. Contacting a car accident lawyer from Rand Spear is the best thing you can do to protect yourself.
Common Injuries that You May Not Know You Have After a Car Accident
There are many wounds that are obvious after a car accident, including open lacerations, broken bones, and burns, but others are much harder to see. If you can walk, move, and function and just feel a bit sore after the accident, you may think you are fine even though there are complicated concerns that could be less obvious. Some of the types of injuries you could have that are harder to actually notice include the following:
- Strained back muscles that become more painful in the days and weeks after
- Traumatic brain injuries from striking your head
- Whiplash
- Headaches and migraine onset
- Internal bleeding
- Concussions
- Spinal column damage leading to herniated discs
- Knee and hip injuries to the joints
- Shoulder injuries
These types of injuries are often called hidden injuries after a car accident because, even though they happen right away after an accident, they may not be as obvious right away. When you go to the emergency room after the accident, you can get a full body workup that will catch most of these injuries early on. That means you get treatment right away, minimizing your risk of complications.
What to Do if You Did Not Go to the Doctor Immediately
It may be a day or so since you were involved in the car accident, but now you are beginning to notice that your symptoms are worsening. Go to the doctor now. The sooner you get in to see a doctor, the more likely they can help you.
You can go to the ER at any time for a car accident injury. We encourage you not to wait any longer because complications to your brain, internal organs, and even your spine can worsen so much that they lead to life-threatening conditions. You can go no matter when these symptoms begin to develop.
You can still file an insurance claim for your losses from an accident like this, even if you did not go to the hospital immediately. You will need to work to prove there is a link between the accident and the injury. We can help you to do that.
Contact Our Car Accident Attorneys Now to Learn What to Do in Your Case
At Rand Spear The Accident Attorney, we encourage you to make us your second call after going to the doctor. Let us fight for fair and comprehensive compensation for the losses you have, giving you the confidence you need to recover. Call us now for a free consultation to discuss your case.
Call or text (215) 985-2424 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
