Experiencing an accident is unsettling, even if you are initially feeling fine after a car crash. In St. George, Utah, there are common misconceptions about seeking medical care or seeking help from an attorney after an accident. At McMullin Injury Law, we aim to clarify these myths to ensure you receive the treatment and compensation you need and deserve to get life back to normal.
The Myth: If I am feeling Fine after a Crash, I Don’t Need to See a Doctor
A prevalent belief is that if you’re not feeling immediate pain after a car accident, there’s no need to seek medical attention. However, this is a misconception that can hinder your recovery and impact any potential personal injury claims.
The Role of Adrenaline and Injuries Emerging
Immediately following an accident, your body produces a surge of adrenaline, masking pain and injury symptoms. This natural response may prevent you from recognizing injuries until days later. It’s not uncommon for symptoms, especially soft tissue injuries like muscle strains or back pain, to manifest only after the adrenaline subsides. It’s crucial to be attentive to new or worsening symptoms, such as back pain, stiffness, or soreness. These are often signs of injuries that need medical evaluation. Pay attention to how you feel 48 hours or so after the crash.
Common Delayed-Onset Injuries
Several types of injuries commonly appear hours or days after an accident. Whiplash is perhaps the most well-known, but concussions, herniated discs, and internal injuries can also have delayed symptoms. Headaches that develop days later may indicate a traumatic brain injury, while abdominal pain could signal internal bleeding. Even seemingly minor accidents can cause significant injuries that don’t immediately present symptoms.
Seeking Medical Care If You Stop Feeling Fine After a Car Crash
If you start feeling pain days after the accident, it’s crucial to seek medical attention promptly. Consult a healthcare professional who can assess your condition and recommend treatment. This ensures you receive the necessary care to recover efficiently. Moreover, documented medical care is vital for any future personal injury claim.
The Importance of Medical Documentation
From a legal standpoint, having a clear medical record that connects your symptoms to the accident is crucial to move forward. Insurance companies often scrutinize delayed medical treatment, questioning whether injuries are truly accident-related. By seeking immediate medical evaluation, even if you feel fine, you establish a baseline and create documentation that protects your legal interests.
Navigating Insurance and Legal Support
It’s common to feel overwhelmed dealing with insurance claims while recovering from an injury. Your health is the most important thing, so after seeking the care you need, contact a personal injury attorney to help with insurance claims. The only better time to contact an attorney would be sooner, right after your crash. At McMullin Injury Law, our experienced attorneys can guide you through getting the care you need and navigate the often complicated insurance process. We ensure that the appropriate insurance covers your medical expenses and work to secure a fair compensation. Having legal representation ensures that you get the medical attention you require without bearing the financial burden yourself.
Understanding Utah’s Insurance Requirements
Utah operates under a no-fault insurance system, which means your own insurance typically covers immediate medical expenses regardless of who caused the accident. However, for serious injuries that exceed your coverage limits, you may need to pursue compensation from the at-fault driver’s insurance. Understanding these nuances helps ensure you don’t face unexpected medical bills.
When to Contact an Attorney
While not every minor accident requires legal representation, certain circumstances make consulting with an attorney wise. It’s better safe than sorry, and getting answers to your questions early on in the process is always a great idea. If you do end up experiencing ongoing pain, requiring extensive medical treatment, or facing disputes with insurance companies, professional legal guidance becomes extremely valuable. Early consultation doesn’t commit you to hiring an attorney, but it ensures you understand your rights and options going forward.
Conclusion: Protecting Your Health and Rights
After a car accident, even if you initially feel fine, it’s essential to remain vigilant about your health. Watch for emerging symptoms and seek medical care as needed. Remember that taking care of your health immediately after an accident is essential for long term recovery. For assistance with your case and to ensure you’re not bearing unnecessary financial burdens, contact McMullin Injury Law for a free consultation.
Transcription
Personal injury myth busting. I’m from St. George. There’s a lot of beliefs here locally about personal injury law, personal injury lawyers that maybe are a bit of misconceptions. One of the myths that I hear a lot is that people think, well, I obviously want to go seek medical care if you’re not hurting. The part that’s a misconception or a myth from that is that often times adrenalin or flight kicks in to protect us and can mask pain.
Sometimes people even have a fracture and are not really feeling it in the moment, right? Sometimes they are, but oftentimes people will have soft tissue injuries. So, muscle strain injuries where their back is really bothering a few days later. And what you’ll notice is really common is that the very first day is not often times when you’ll feel those type of injuries the most. Often times as the adrenaline fades over the next couple days, day 2, day three, day four, is that you’ll be much more cognizant of how that back pain is affecting you and what type of movements make you feel it.
If pain like that starts to show up, you can still get help. You can get basic medical attention. You can go see the right types of doctors to get their opinions on what would be the best way to get you healthy the best and the fastest. An attorney can help you figure out how to get that proper care covered by the responsible insurance.
