By: Armada Law LLC December 23, 2024

When Is It Too Late to See a Doctor After a Car Accident?

The Importance of Timely Medical Care After an Accident

With regards to the medical examination timeline, car accident victims should not waste precious time. Car accidents are sudden and frightening, which can cause an adrenaline response. Adrenaline can mask injury symptoms until hours later.

Additionally, some injuries will not present symptoms until days or even weeks later. Only medical evaluations will be able to detect their presence. The longer that you wait to get treatment, the more serious these injuries can become. In some cases, delaying treatment after a car accident can also result in permanent impacts from injuries.

If you have been in a car accident, you do not have to go to the emergency room if you do not have immediate life-threatening injuries. However, you should visit an urgent care center or your doctor as soon as possible, preferably within 24 hours of the accident to make sure you do not have hidden injuries.

Common Injuries That Cause Delayed Symptoms After a Car Accident

Even a minor car accident may leave you with injuries. It’s a mistake to assume that you are completely fine if you don’t have any visible wounds that need immediate treatment. Some of the most dangerous injuries have subtle symptoms you may not immediately notice. Here is a look at the most common injuries with delayed symptoms after a car accident:

Soft Tissue Injuries

Strains and sprains to soft tissues are very common after a car crash. One of the most common types is whiplash, which can make your neck feel stiff or cause headaches. Unfortunately, ignoring symptoms you think will pass can lead to a worsening of the injury. If you experience pain, swelling, or limited mobility, you should make sure to have a doctor examine you.

Traumatic Brain Injuries

Also known as TBIs, traumatic brain injuries are one of the most serious injuries in an auto accident. While some TBIs are mild, others can be severe. Ignoring even a mild TBI is ill-advised. Symptoms may not present for days and headaches, dizziness, and confusion are common. If you notice any or all of these symptoms soon after your accident, go to the hospital to prevent the TBI from becoming a life-threatening condition.

Fractures or Dislocations

Bone fractures or dislocations of joints, such as at the shoulder, are another typical result of a serious car accident. You’ll notice if you have a fractured piece of bone poking through your skin. However, cracked ribs may be less obvious. Dislocated joints are often excused by victims as pain that will pass after resting. You may not even notice anything at all, which is why it’s essential to have a medical professional conduct a thorough evaluation.

Internal Injuries

One of the most concerning injuries after a car accident is an internal organ injury. These are notorious for having delayed symptoms after a car accident and when you start feeling those symptoms, it will be a race against time for emergency medical care. Internal bleeding can occur with any of the vital organs inside your abdominal area or rib cage.

If you notice abdominal pain and bruising, nausea, or you experience changes in blood pressure, call 911 immediately.

Medical Evaluation: How Long After a Car Accident Can You See a Doctor?

How long after a car accident can you see a doctor? Ideally, you should be seen within 24 hours of your accident and no later than 48 hours. However, most insurance companies will allow a grace period for delayed symptoms ranging from a few days to a week.

Your health should be the biggest concern, and while it’s only natural to be worried about the medical expenses that will result from your treatment, you may complicate your car accident case by waiting. You are encouraged to see a doctor as soon as possible after the crash. So, where should you go?

The Emergency Room

If you’ve declined an ambulance and are treated on the scene of the accident and any severe pain, loss of consciousness, or urgent symptoms arise, go to the nearest hospital emergency room immediately. This will be the best place to get assessed and discover the full extent of your serious injuries.

Urgent Care Center

After a car accident, you may know that you’re not in any imminent danger from a life-threatening injury but it’s important to be seen promptly. The emergency room is for emergencies, making an urgent care center the best place to go. These clinics are equipped to assist you with non-life-threatening injuries.

Visit Your Doctor

It’s also possible to go to your primary care physician to get checked out. This may be a great option if your doctor can see you within 24 to 48 hours. However, a general practitioner will not be able to help with every injury. They’ll likely refer you to specialists to get the full range of care you need to recover.

Attend All Follow-Up Appointments

No matter where you go for your initial medical care after a car accident, make sure that you attend all follow-up appointments. This includes scheduling visits to specialists, attending physical therapy, and picking up your prescriptions. By following your medical care, you’ll be on your way to recovering from the accident. You’ll also be protecting your car accident claim by establishing medical records of your injuries.

Putting your health first protects you and your case. Medical documentation is essential evidence for a personal injury case. If you don’t have proof of your injuries or that you have been following doctors’ orders, you may be denied compensation.

Legal Implications That May Arise from Waiting to Get Medical Care After an Accident

It may seem like a hassle to get medical care, or you may be afraid to go to a doctor. Regardless of the reason, it is in your best interest to seek treatment immediately following your accident. When injuries are discovered, treating them creates medical records that become part of the evidence in your claim.

Doing so promptly also prevents you from missing the statute of limitations on car accident cases. In South Carolina, you have three years from the date of your accident or when injuries are discovered. The sooner you start your treatment, the sooner you can heal and the sooner you can file your lawsuit to recover the compensation you are owed.

Here is a look at how prompt medical care can affect your ability to seek damages for your injuries:

It Establishes a Medical Record

When you first go to the hospital, urgent care, or doctor, this action creates a medical file. It will list the date, the injuries discovered, and the treatments provided. There will be test results, notes from the doctor, and other vital pieces of information included, all of which can be of assistance when filing an injury claim.

Evidence to Support Your Claim

Filing an injury claim with the at-fault party’s insurer requires proof of your injuries and the medical costs associated with them. When you have these detailed records with the date of treatment as the date of the accident, it is difficult for insurance companies to dispute that the accident caused your injuries.

Every visit and treatment will be detailed, which can show your improvements or if more care is needed. Medical treatment can show the need for awarding future medical costs as part of a settlement to ensure that you don’t get stuck paying out of pocket for injuries someone else caused you to suffer through their negligent actions.

Protecting Your Legal Rights

In South Carolina, the at-fault laws and modified comparative negligence rule may complicate your car accident case. The other party’s insurer may attempt to challenge the legitimacy of your injuries in an attempt to reduce the payout. If you have well-established medical records, it will be hard to dispute that you are owed money for your injuries.

If you waited to see a doctor because you didn’t think you were hurt, it is best to consult a personal injury lawyer about your specific circumstances. Seeking immediate medical care should be your first step, and seeking legal representation should come next. Contact Armada Law to learn more about what to do next.