Don't Make These 3 Medical Mistakes After Your Car Accident

Being in a car accident can be a traumatic and stressful experience. Your car could experience costly damage, and you might suffer serious injuries. While the other party's insurance should pay those expenses and reimburse you for your suffering, sometimes insurers will challenge claim amounts or even refuse to pay a claim altogether. That's when obtaining an attorney and filing a lawsuit may make sense. The steps you take right after your accident can significantly impact the outcome of your case. That's especially true with doctor's visits and healthcare. Below are three common mistakes you should avoid after your auto accident.

Don’t Wait to Go to the Doctor

Perhaps the biggest mistake people make after an accident is delaying a trip to the doctor. They may wait because they think the pain will get better on its own, or they may not even feel pain, so they think a trip to the doctor is unnecessary. The problem with this is that it creates an opening for defense lawyers to say that your injuries aren't serious. They might say that your injuries couldn't be that bad if you didn't need to go to the doctor for several weeks. Always visit the doctor as soon as possible after a car wreck. Tell the doctor about every symptom you have, no matter how minor. This will establish documentation of your symptoms and your injuries.

Don’t Embellish the Facts

When you visit a doctor, they may ask for details about the crash. Don't exaggerate or embellish the facts. Just stick with what you know. If you tell a doctor that a car hit you at 70 miles per hour, but evidence later shows it was only 45 miles per hour, that discrepancy could be enough to undermine your credibility. Instead, stick to what you know. If the doctor asks a question and you're unsure of the answer, it's okay to say that you don't know that information. Admitting that you're unsure is better than guessing. 

Don’t Discontinue Treatment

You may feel that the treatment your doctor prescribed is unnecessary. For instance, you may stop taking prescribed anti-inflammatories, or you may want to stop attending physical therapy appointments. You must stick with all treatments. Again, if you stop treatments, it could create an opening for the defense to question the legitimacy of your injuries. Even if you think the treatments aren't helping, you must have documentation that you followed the treatments as prescribed. That will strengthen your case and bolster your credibility in court.

Ready to pursue compensation for your injuries? Contact a car accident attorney in your area today to start the conversation.