How soon after an accident should I see a doctor?

How soon after an accident should I see a doctor?

The same day. If possible, within hours.

This is not a suggestion about your health — though it absolutely is that too. It is a statement about what happens to your legal claim if you wait.

Adrenaline is one of the most powerful pain suppressors the human body produces. In the immediate aftermath of a collision your body releases significant amounts of it. People walk away from serious accidents feeling relatively unharmed and discover hours or days later that they have sustained significant injuries — whiplash, herniated discs, concussions, nerve damage, and internal trauma that do not announce themselves at the scene.

From a legal standpoint, a gap between the accident and your first medical visit is one of the most frequently used and most damaging arguments an insurance company makes when disputing a personal injury claim. Their adjusters are trained to point to the gap as evidence that your injuries were not caused by the accident or are not as serious as claimed.

A medical evaluation the same day closes that gap. It creates a contemporaneous medical record that connects your injuries to the accident. It protects your claim. And it protects your health by identifying injuries that might otherwise go undetected until they become significantly worse.

Tell the treating physician exactly what happened — that you were in a vehicle collision, how the impact occurred, and every symptom you are experiencing even if each one seems minor. Be complete and be honest. That medical record is the foundation of your case.After your evaluation, call Cohn & Swartzon LLP at 888-480-3883. Our team is available 24 hours a day 7 days a week at legalhelp123.com. If you do not have health insurance or your coverage is limited, we can help connect you with providers who work on a lien basis — meaning they treat you now and are compensated when your case resolves.