January 27, 2023 by Anthony Riccio
A multiple car accident occurred on the Massachusetts Turnpike, in Auburn. Whenever there are multiple vehicles involved in an accident, there are also multiple victims. However, not every victim of a car crash will automatically seek out medical attention, despite the fact that everyone involved in a wreck, regardless of how minor, should seek medical attention.
Car accidents disrupt a person’s entire day. In some cases, they may not feel their injuries are serious enough to seek medical attention. Some avoid medical attention because it is not convenient, after all, the accident has already resulted in there being a delay in their schedule for the day. However, medical attention is important for some of the following reasons:
Car accident victims should seek medical attention immediately following an accident. Whether this is done by visiting a nearby trauma center or contacting their own physician, it is important.
While some injuries, such as a broken bone, may be obvious after a car accident, it is important for an accident victim to be aware of symptoms which could appear in the days following an accident. These symptoms could indicate an accident victim may have a serious injury. Some of these include:
Victims of an accident should be aware of any unexplained changes in how they feel. Should they display any unusual symptoms they should immediately seek medical attention and advise the medical team they were in a recent car accident.
By seeking medical treatment immediately following an accident, some of these issues may be avoided. Visiting a doctor or hospital after an accident can mean a victim’s injuries are caught earlier than they would be if medical care was avoided.
Keep in mind, in many cases, early intervention for internal injuries, neck and back injuries, and head injuries can help minimize their long-term effects on the victim and the victim’s life.
When someone suffers a broken bone, there is usually an uneventful recovery from their injury. However, some injuries can impact a victim for the rest of their life. Internal injuries can cause deep tissue bruising, internal bleeding, and may result in a need for surgical intervention.
Someone who suffers a head injury may suffer a traumatic brain injury (TBI) because of the impact. Victims who suffer a brain injury after a car accident could face weeks, months, or even a lifetime of rehabilitation and retraining.
While not every accident victim will suffer long-term problems after a car accident, it is still a good idea to seek immediate medical care. Whether a victim is treated at a local urgent care, emergency room, or seeks care from their own physician, having the peace of mind of knowing there is a lesser chance of long-term complications from what appears to be a minor injury can also be helpful.
Victims who suffer injuries in a Massachusetts car accident are required to file their initial insurance claim with their own insurer. This is because Massachusetts has a no-fault insurance statute. However, there are instances where another claim may be filed against the responsible driver. Some of these include when the victim suffers a broken bone, the victim’s injuries result in their losing a limb to amputation, or the victim’s medical costs exceed $2,000.
However, before such a legal case may be filed, there must be documentation of the victim’s injury, the long-term prognosis of the injury, or a determination of how the injury will impact their life going forward. This is why documenting injuries with a medical professional is so important after a car accident.
Having an established medical record of the victim’s injury, their treatment, and their recovery progress is helpful when filing a lawsuit. An attorney can use the information contained in the medical documentation with witness statements, police reports, and other information to demonstrate the harm a victim suffered due to injuries they suffered in an accident.
Accident victims can often feel overwhelmed following a car accident. They are focusing on their recovery, attempting to work with their own insurer, and they are naturally concerned about their finances while they are out of work. All of these factors create additional stress which can hamper recovery, but may also result in a victim falling prey to depression or post traumatic stress disorder which stems from the car accident.
When someone is involved in a car accident, the best time to seek medical treatment for an injury is immediately following the accident. Not only does this provide the victim with a clear picture of what steps they need to protect their health, it can also provide valuable information for future legal action.
No one should have to suffer financial hardship because of an accident because another driver acted negligently. Once a victim has spoken to a medical professional for an assessment of their physical condition, they should call 508-226-4500 or contact a car accident lawyer to have their case reviewed and find out about their legal rights and options.
