What You Need to Know About Going to the Emergency Room After an Accident
While driving is a convenient way to move from one place to another, this doesn’t override the fact that climbing behind the wheel of a car also means engaging in behavior that carries the risk of ending in a serious car accident. And any time you are injured in a car accident, there is a good chance that you will end up in the emergency room. There were approximately 139 million emergency room department visits in 2017 alone according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
It is imperative that you get the medical attention you need for your injuries after a car accident, especially when you have been injured in an accident that was someone else’s fault. And fortunately for all drivers in the Sunshine State who find themselves involved in an accident, the law dictates that your automobile insurance provider is required to offer minimum coverage for medical care, regardless of which driver was at fault. But while the most seriously injured accident victims are rushed to the emergency room from the accident scene, others sometimes fall into a gray area of not knowing whether their injuries are “serious enough” to warrant a visit.
After a car accident, there are two good reasons for going to the emergency room among many others:
- You are likely unclear about the real state of your injuries. Many accident victims do not initially recognize all the ways they have been injured due to adrenaline from the accident. However, in many cases visiting an emergency room uncovers additional injuries even when your injury seems minor. Finding them early on can prevent worsening and later help you substantiate assertions made in pursuit of a personal injury claim.
- You probably won’t ever think your injuries are “that bad” even if you believe you are injured. Anyone who has ever visited or even heard of visiting an emergency room knows that this can be an annoying experience typically filled with delays before finally being seen. However, it is also important to understand that delaying medical treatment is one of the main factors insurance companies consider when making an offer of settlement as is the cost of the medical bills. While you shouldn’t head to the emergency room just to get a higher settlement, you also shouldn’t hesitate to go if you have legitimate concerns about your post-accident state of health.
We Can Help You Understand Your Next Steps
When you decide to seek compensation for your injuries and the damages resulting from your car accident, a Florida personal injury team already experienced in car accidents is your best option for guiding you through the claim process. As the experienced Tampa personal injury attorneys of The Pendas Law Firm, we are prepared to dive into the details of your injury and help you undertake steps that help you obtain the compensation you are entitled to. Contact us today for no-obligation consultation about your rights and legal options if you have suffered an injury because of someone else’s negligence.
The Pendas Law Firm also represents clients in the West Palm Beach, Ocala, Orlando, Bradenton, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Fort Myers and Daytona Beach areas.
Resource:
cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/emergency-department.htm
