You should seek immediate medical attention after a car accident. Some serious injuries, such as traumatic brain injury, are not immediately apparent. When you see a doctor after a car crash, the diagnosis can link your injuries to the collision and provide evidence for your personal injury claim.
At Bayuk Pratt, our Atlanta car accident attorneys have witnessed the adverse effects that can result from neglecting to seek prompt medical treatment after an auto accident. Our legal team is here to guide you through the car accident injury claims process and help you seek fair compensation. Refer to this guide to learn how seeing a doctor as soon as possible can make a significant difference in your case. Please don’t hesitate to contact us with any further questions.
How Soon Do I Need to See a Doctor After a Car Accident?
The sooner you see a doctor after a car accident, the better. Adrenaline can mask pain and other symptoms at the scene of the accident. Injuries such as concussion, whiplash, soft tissue injuries, and internal injuries may not show symptoms until hours or days later. If you don’t require emergency medical treatment, it is essential to seek a medical evaluation within 24-72 hours after a motor vehicle accident.
Will Seeing a Doctor Help My Georgia Car Accident Case?
Yes, seeking prompt medical attention can provide valuable evidence to support your car accident claim. Some of those reasons include:
Showing That You Were Hurt
The first step in pursuing a successful car accident claim is showing that you were injured in the accident. Insurance companies may try to downplay your injuries or claim they are unrelated to the accident. Having an official police report and medical records of your injuries shows that you were injured and links your injuries to the accident.
Creating a Record of Your Injuries
Seeking medical treatment doesn’t just prove that you were hurt. It also creates documentation showing your diagnosis, treatment plan, medications, and recommendations for follow-up care or referrals to medical specialists. These details can provide crucial evidence when pursuing your claim.
Validating the Level of Your Injuries
Physicians and specialists can assess the severity of your injuries, whether they’ll require long-term care, and how they might affect your ability to earn a living and enjoy your life. When insurance companies attempt to downplay the severity of your injuries, medical records can provide a powerful rebuttal to their arguments.
Lending Credibility to Your Claim
Insurers and judges view delays in seeking medical treatment or failure to keep follow-up appointments as red flags in car accident cases. Insurers may contend that your car accident injuries couldn’t have been too serious if you didn’t seek follow-up care as prescribed. A prompt doctor’s visit shows that you are taking your injuries and health seriously.
How Can a Georgia Car Accident Lawyer Help Me with My Car Accident Claim?
Working with an experienced car accident lawyer can help you avoid missteps and give you a significant advantage when pursuing claims. The team at Bayuk Pratt can help car accident victims by:
- Providing an Informed Perspective: Our firm’s founders, Frank Bayuk and Bradley Pratt, are former defense attorneys who represented big corporations in injury litigation. They know the tactics that insurance companies use to avoid liability in personal injury cases. Our legal team uses that knowledge of how insurance companies operate to the advantage of car accident victims.
- Formulating a Strategy: We’ll investigate the accident, determine the at-fault driver, and then develop a legal strategy to establish liability, prove the extent and impact of your injuries, and recover maximum compensation.
- Offering Compassionate Support: Our law firm offers all of our clients compassion, understanding, and emotional support when they need it most, as well as aggressive legal representation.
- Preparing Your Case as If It’s Going to Trial: The ideal outcome is always an out-of-court settlement for full compensation. However, sometimes insurance companies refuse to agree to a fair settlement. That’s why we prepare your case as if it will go to trial. We will be ready to file a personal injury lawsuit and take your case to trial if it serves our client’s best interests.
What Does It Cost to Hire a Georgia Car Accident Lawyer?
Many accident victims fear the financial cost of hiring a lawyer. At Bayuk Pratt, we offer a free initial consultation to review your accident and discuss your legal options. Our law firm handles personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis. This arrangement means you will have an experienced car accident attorney representing you. You will not owe us a legal fee unless we successfully secure a settlement or court award for you.
What Compensation Might Be Available for a Successful Car Accident Claim?
Compensation for car accident injuries can vary depending on the circumstances of the incident and the severity of the injuries. In general, your attorney will seek to recover compensation for the following:
- Current medical bills
- Future medical expenses
- Lost wages and diminished earning capacity
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
The amount of compensation depends on the severity of the injuries, the length of recovery, the overall costs incurred, the percentage of fault, and the available insurance coverage. Your car accident attorney will consider every possible element when calculating your full compensation.
How Long Do I Have to File a Georgia Car Accident Claim?
Under Georgia law, you typically have two years to file a lawsuit for car accident injuries. There are some exceptions. Regardless of how long you may have to pursue a case, you should seek medical attention promptly. Personal injury cases take time, and cases become harder to build the longer you wait to seek medical care. Please reach out to an Atlanta car accident lawyer as soon as you have begun medical treatment.
Contact a Georgia Car Accident Lawyer
If you’ve suffered injuries in a car accident caused by someone else’s negligence, you don’t need to face the aftermath alone. Bayuk Pratt in Atlanta, GA, has recovered over $300 million in settlements and court verdicts for clients just like you struggling to overcome serious injuries. We’ll fight to protect your rights and demand the compensation you need, allowing you to focus on recovery. Contact us today for a free consultation.
