The NBC Bay Area report states that 12 people died in vehicle-related traffic crashes in 2023 in San Jose. These depressingly high numbers show that awareness of accidents is the need of the hour. In addition to avoiding accidents, the average San Jose resident must also know what to do after an accident. This is mainly because what a victim does after an accident has a role to play in both their recovery and the compensation they receive.
There are numerous things a victim ought to do after an accident. They are:
- Get to a safe spot (either away from the damaged vehicle or to a spot away from the scene of the accident)
- Seek medical attention
- Gather evidence
- Collect eyewitness statements
- Hire one of the San Jose personal injury lawyers
All the above-mentioned tips are important in their own way. In this article, we’re going to discuss the second tip, seeking medical attention.
Medical Attention and Its Importance
Those involved in an accident usually suffer some kind of injury. They can be either physical or emotional.
Only the luckiest of the lucky will survive an accident without any kind of damage. Sadly, they’re rare.
There are numerous reasons why one must visit a hospital or a qualified medical practitioner after an accident. Here are some of them.
- Treating your physical injuries
- Diagnosing hidden injuries
- Updating medical records
- Proof of medical treatment
Each reason is discussed in the sections below.
Treating Physical Injuries
Victims of accidents are prone to a range of injuries. The severity of the accident has a role to play in how serious the injuries are.
Their health must be the priority of a victim after an accident. The sooner the victim receives medical attention, the better. Immediate medical attention can also be lifesaving, preventing injuries from worsening.
The health aspect aside, seeking medical attention will also be beneficial to the victim’s personal injury claim. Insurance companies often use the delay in visiting the hospital as a defense. They’ll offer lower compensation, stating that the victim’s injuries weren’t serious enough to warrant a hospital visit.
Diagnosing Hidden Injuries
The human body is complex. While symptoms for some injuries show up immediately, symptoms for others do not. Some accident injuries without visible symptoms include:
- Certain soft tissue injuries
- Concussions
- Whiplash
- Certain traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
What makes these hidden injuries dangerous is the fact that, by the time they are revealed, they could’ve gotten much worse. A visit to the hospital after an accident helps the victims diagnose these injuries and follow the treatment plan required.
Updating Medical Records
Medical records serve two purposes.
One is that they help the victim document their injuries. This allows the victim to refer to the updated medical records for any complexities that may arise in the future.
Second, they are considered solid evidence in a personal injury claim.
Medical records are proof that an accident occurred and that the victim suffered injuries because of it. This is particularly true for more severe accidents, like T-bone car accidents or electrocution. Medical records serve as important documents that show all the health-related complications that that victim had to undergo because of the accident.
Proof of Medical Treatment
This is different from what was mentioned in the previous section.
Proof here refers to the bills that pile up due to the injuries sustained in the accident.
A visit to the hospital puts the victim under great financial stress. The stress is doubled if the injuries are on the severe side.
The victim may face the following expenses, depending on their injuries:
- Consultation
- Surgeries
- Medication
- Counselling
- Physical therapy
- Hospital visits
- Ambulance fees
- Medical equipment
The bills the victim receives are evidence of the financial hardships they had to go through. Submitting all these bills is a great way to prove the amount of money the victim has spent to treat their injuries.
Final Thoughts
Accidents can disrupt a person’s life. But the person’s actions decide whether they suffer silently or quickly get on the road to recovery.
Medical attention helps with the latter. They prove the seriousness of the victim’s injuries and the money they spent treating them.
Another tool essential for a personal injury claim is a lawyer. They know how to make the best use of the evidence and ensure victims get fair compensation for their losses.
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