Seek Medical Attention ASAP
Being struck by a car will likely result in injuries, although the severity of your injuries will depend upon a number of factors, including the force with which you are struck. In all cases, including situations in which you “feel fine” or haven’t suffered any obvious injuries, seeking medical attention as soon as possible is a must.
Emergency Medical Care
If you are seriously injured as a result of being struck by a car, getting emergency medical care should be your top priority. When you call the police to report the accident, tell the operator that you are injured and in need of care. The operator should send an ambulance to the scene. Depending upon the extent of your injuries, you may be treated at the scene, or you may need to be transferred to a hospital for care immediately. If this is the case, do not worry about filing a police report at the scene; you can meet with police as soon as you are in a stable condition.
Seeking Care After Filing Your Police Report
Many injuries that are common in a vehicle collision, such as soft tissue injuries, may not necessitate immediate transfer to a medical department. As such, if you have not suffered life-threatening or severe injuries, you should remain at the scene and file a police report about the accident. Then, your next stop should be a hospital, where you should get a thorough exam by a doctor. Some types of injuries that may not seem obvious at first, such as a concussion, can be very serious, which is part of the reason it is so critical to seek medical care as soon as possible following a crash.
Failing to Seek Care Can Have Negative Consequences
If you fail to seek care for whatever reason, there may be serious consequences for this decision. Of course, most severely, one consequence may be a worsening in your condition that has unintended effects. For example, if you have an undiagnosed concussion and then engage in an activity that results in another blow to the head, you could suffer permanent brain damage or increase your risk of a neurodegenerative disease.
Another consequence of failing to seek medical care pertains to the claim process. If you do not seek medical care immediately and then claim an injury at a later date, the insurance adjuster responsible for processing your claim may state that your claim does not seem credible – after all, if your injury is real, why did you wait so long to seek medical care? When you seek care early on and document it, it makes your injuries easier to prove and adds more clout to your claim. If you don’t think that you need to go to an emergency department, schedule an appointment with your primary care doctor the same day as your accident or the following day at the very least.
After Receiving Medical Care
Remember, in addition to seeking medical care, it is also crucial that you follow all doctors’ instructions regarding treatment for your injuries. Failure to do so can also jeopardize your claim and ability to recover your full compensation award.