If you’ve been in an accident in Houston or San Antonio, TX, you may be wondering if you have to go to the hospital even if you don’t think you’ve been injured in the accident. The fact of the matter is that seeking medical attention after an accident is the smart thing to do. Learn more about what to do after an accident and other advice accident injury lawyers might give you.
What Should You Do If You’re Not Sure You Have a Car Accident Injury?
If you’re not sure you’ve been injured in a car accident, you should still seek immediate medical attention. You can be treated at the scene by EMTs or transported to the nearest emergency room for treatment. Whether you only have a scrape or some other type of injury, such as a concussion, it’s essential to receive medical attention as soon as possible.
Why Delaying Treatment Is Harmful
Many times people are more seriously injured than they believe. For traumatic brain injuries such as concussions, the symptoms may not set in for several hours or days, which means delaying medical attention after an accident can be potentially life-threatening.
The adrenaline rush after an accident may cause shock, which can mask even major injuries from your notice. Additionally, most people will not leave a car accident unscathed. From bruising and cuts to muscle strains in the neck or spine, injuries after an accident are very common. This is why it’s so important to seek immediate medical care, even if you don’t think you are seriously injured.
Ask Accident Injury Lawyers: Why Do You Need Medical Attention After an Accident?
In addition to protecting your health, there are other reasons you will want to seek medical attention after an accident. If you ask accident injury lawyers, they will tell you that you need medical attention after an accident for several reasons, including starting medical records and getting proof of your injuries for insurance claims.
Proof for Insurance Claim
If you intend to file a personal injury claim, it’s essential to have proof for your insurance company that you have been injured or that you’ve been in an accident. Regardless of the severity of your injuries, starting medical records from the date of the accident will give your insurance claim credibility so that you can file your car accidents claim confidently.
Furthermore, if your injury from the accident has a delayed onset or is much more serious than it initially seems, starting a medical record on the day of the accident will be essential in the future. In particular, if an insurance company or the liable party in the accident claims that your injury was not caused by the accident, having a dated medical record can support your claim.
How Else Can You Support Your Claim in Houston and San Antonio, TX?
Aside from getting medical treatment immediately after an accident, there are several things you can do to support your claim in Houston, TX and San Antonio, TX. The steps you take following an accident can make or break your case. You must be smart and follow all the important steps so accident injury lawyers can help you receive compensation for your injuries and personal property damages after the accident.
Contact the Police Immediately
The first thing you should do after an accident is to contact the police. Whether the accident was major or minor, you will still need to file a police report and a crash report in Texas, particularly if you plan to file an insurance claim. The police report is the first record of the accident and will be instrumental in helping you secure your settlement in the future.
Take Pictures and Collect Evidence
If you are able, you should also begin collecting evidence immediately. In particular, you will want to take pictures of the scene of the accident, paying special attention to the conditions of the road and any damage to your vehicle. When you are defending a claim to an insurance company or in court, a picture is worth more than a thousand words.
Other evidence you may want to collect includes information about the other driver and information about witnesses of the accident. Along with contact information, you must have the insurance information for the other person who was involved in the accident. This is because it’s likely you will be dealing directly with this person’s insurance company when it’s time to file your claim, so you must have accurate information to receive your compensation.
Use Caution in Speaking to Insurance Adjusters
When it’s time to speak with insurance companies about your accident, you should stay cautious. Often, insurance adjusters may ask leading questions that are intended to make you reveal details about the accident that can undermine your insurance claim. Additionally, insurance adjusters may use your words against you to deny your claim.
This is why it’s essential to avoid saying that you’re fine or revealing details about your physical condition. It’s best to try to redirect any contact from the insurance adjuster to your accident injury lawyer. Your lawyer will understand how to best speak with the insurance company to protect the validity of your claim.
Be Mindful About Social Media
In this day and age, you also need to be mindful about what you post on social media. Because social media accounts are public, insurance adjusters may look up your social media to find evidence that can undermine your claim. For this reason, you should avoid bragging about your potential settlement online. You should also avoid posting any pictures of recreational activities that will indicate you’re not as injured as you claim.
Hire an Accident Injury Lawyer Quickly
Finally, you should hire an accident injury lawyer quickly. Usually, the best time to hire a lawyer is as soon as you are medically able. For some, this could mean hiring a lawyer as soon as you are out of the emergency room, while for others this could mean hiring a lawyer as soon as you are cognitively capable of speaking with legal counsel.
Hiring an accident injury lawyer quickly is the best way to protect the validity and credibility of your claim. Furthermore, a lawyer in San Antonio or Houston can help you build the case quickly so that you can receive a timely settlement for injuries.
How Accident Injury Lawyers Can Help You
Some things accident injury lawyers can do include speaking with the insurance company on your behalf, negotiating a settlement for your claim, and defending your claim in court if there are any liability issues.
In Texas, it’s especially important to have expert accident injury lawyers on your side because comparative negligence can be easily triggered in your case. Comparative negligence can significantly alter the compensation you are entitled to since this doctrine states both parties in a car accident are liable for the accident and eligible for a portion of the settlement.
After a car accident, the first thing you should do is seek medical attention, even if you don’t think you are injured. Getting medical care is important because shock can hide injuries. It’s also essential to have medical records from the date of the accident to establish the validity of your claim. For more information about what you should do after an accident, contact Joe A. Gamez Law Firm, PLC today.