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Should I Receive Medical Treatment After a Los Angeles Car Crash?
Deciding whether to received medical treatment after a car crash is difficult. Following traffic accidents in Los Angeles, some people fail to seek medical treatment. Failing to get medically evaluated after an accident may leave people with injuries that are exacerbated and may make it more difficult for them to recover damages for their losses. Several common car accident injuries are initially hidden and only show symptoms hours or days after the accidents have happened. It is very important for you to seek medical care if you have been involved in an accident as soon as you can after it even if you do not initially think that you are injured. In addition, alleging “delay in treatment” is one of the main insurance tactics in trying to lessen the value of your claim or not pay the claim at all so seeking treatment as soon as possible and immediately upon experiencing symptoms that could indicate bodily harm is vital.
Car Accident Injury Statistics
Both national and state statistics demonstrate how common injuries from motor vehicle accidents are. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, an estimated 2.44 million people were injured in the U.S. in traffic accidents in 2015, which represented an increase over the 2.34 million who were injured in 2014. In California, statistics from 2014 are the most recent data available. According to the California Department of Motor Vehicles, 230,853 people were injured in motor vehicle collisions during that year, which was a 3.5 percent increase over the number of people who were injured in 2013 in the state. In Los Angeles County, 75,683 people were injured or killed in traffic accidents in 2014. The statistics demonstrate that automobile accident injuries are very common and that it is important for people to seek medical examinations following accidents to make certain whether or not they are injured. There are some injuries that may necessitate medical care and that are not initially obvious, including traumatic brain injuries, internal bleeding, whiplash and others.
Common Injuries in Los Angeles Auto Accidents
When you are involved in an automobile accident, you may receive any number of injuries depending on the severity of the impact, the vehicles involved and the crash type. Common injuries that happen in Los Angeles auto accidents include the following:
- Head injuries, including eye injuries, facial bone fractures, jaw fractures, dental injuries and vision loss
- Neck and back injuries, including whiplash, spinal disc injuries and muscular strains
- Abdominal injuries, including liver, spleen and kidney damage and hip or pelvic fractures
- Leg and knee injuries, including fractures, bruises and mensicus tears
- Foot injuries, including fractures, strains and sprains
In addition, people may suffer from traumatic brain injuries, skull fractures, spinal cord injuries, internal bleeding and other severe trauma. The fact there are numerous types of injuries that people may suffer in automotive accidents makes it very important to seek a medical examination as soon as it is possible after accidents. Medical professionals may discover injuries that people are not aware of in these post-accident evaluations. They may also be able to determine the severity of any injuries if they are present or to offer confirmation that injuries did not occur. Seeking medical help after a car accident is something that should not be overlooked even if the accidents were relatively minor.
Why you Should not say That you are Uninjured After an Accident
Immediately following an accident, it is common for people to have adrenaline rushes that might make them less aware of injury symptoms. If you are in an accident, it is not a good idea to tell the other driver or the responding police officer that you are uninjured. Some injuries have symptoms that may be delayed for hours or days after an accident. If you initially say that you weren’t injured and later discover that you did suffer injuries, it may make it more difficult for you to collect the medical expenses that you might otherwise have been entitled to receive. It is easier to demonstrate a nexus between your injury and the accident when you can offer medical documentation from immediately following the accident.
Delayed Symptoms Following Car Accidents
There are some symptoms that may not show up for days after an accident and that should prompt you to visit a medical professional. If you experience headaches after your accident, you may have suffered a concussion, blood clot, neck injury or whiplash. Neck and shoulder stiffness or pain may indicate whiplash, which is known to not express for hours or days after motor vehicle accidents. Abdominal pain or swelling may indicate that you have internal bleeding and should prompt you to immediately go to the hospital. Dizziness may also indicate internal bleeding, head injuries or other injuries. If you experience tingling or weakness in your limbs, you may have a herniated disc that is pressing on one of your spinal nerves. Finally, you should not ignore emotional trauma that may happen after an accident. Some people develop post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental health problems after car accidents for which treatment may be necessary. The takeaway is that you should never ignore anything that doesn’t feel right after you have been in an accident, and you should make sure to see a doctor after you have been involved in one.
Contact a Los Angeles Accident Attorney
If you are in an accident, the first thing you should do is to seek medical care. If you suffered injuries, it is a good idea for you then to seek the help of an experienced automobile accident lawyer. It is important for you to get legal help before agreeing to make any statements to an insurance company. Insurance adjusters often try to get people to make recorded statements for the express purpose of trying to undermine their ability to recover damages later. When your accident was caused by another driver’s error, you may be entitled to recover noneconomic and economic damages for your losses. The Steven M. Sweat, Personal Injury Lawyers, APC, APC has substantial experience representing automobile accident victims throughout the state. We offer free initial consultations to people who have suffered injuries in motor vehicle collisions. We also do not charge legal fees unless we recover money for the victims or their families.