Car accidents happen far too often and can have deadly implications. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were 36,096 deaths as a result of traffic accidents in 2019. That number is down slightly from 2018 and NHTSA believes the numbers for 2020 will be even lower, but that is mostly because of people staying home due to Corona Virus. Fortunately, not all accidents are fatal, but that does not mean they will not have lingering implications.
No matter how minor the accident in which you are involved seems, you should seek medical attention after an accident. Just about all of us have been in some type of accident and can recall the feeling of shock and even trauma as a result. It is often difficult to think clearly after an accident. This confusion may cause you to walk away from the accident without seeking any treatment, especially if at that moment, you do not feel hurt. The reality is, you probably will not realize the extent of any injuries until later. Not receiving medical treatment immediately can only make those injuries worse.
The first 72 hours after an accident are the most important for seeking medical help. This is when any swelling that is occurring in your body reaches its capacity. Any injury to the soft tissues in your body can cause permanent scar tissue to form in your muscles if you do not have it treated quickly. The long that scar tissue builds and sits then the more difficult it is to treat. It will also be much easier to reinjure that area at a later time. When you do not receive medical attention right away, it is more difficult to file a claim with the insurance company for those injuries. When you receive medical attention, you will have records of your injuries, the severity, and the needed treatment. If you do not have these documents from a medical source, it is difficult to prove you have any injuries, or that any injuries you have are as a result of that accident.
While one of your first steps to take is to make sure you receive the medical attention you need, even if you think you really do not need it, it is not the only important one. You want to make sure someone contacts the police while at the scene of the accident. If someone else did not, you need to make sure that you do. You want to honestly report to the police officer what happened. They will often issue tickets to whoever is at fault and this report will need to go to the insurance company.
You want to make sure that you have detailed notes about what happened during the accident. You should write it down as soon as you can. You do not want to risk forgetting any of the details. As time goes by, the details are likely to get fuzzy. You want to make sure you have copies of all of your medical records, receipts, and any other notes about your injury. In the event that you need an Accident Attorney, all of this information will be useful for your case.
