What If I Didn’t Get Medical Treatment Right Away After an Accident?
After an accident, a lot of people don’t feel pain right away. The adrenaline is running, the situation is stressful, and in the moment everything seems fine. It’s only later, sometimes days later, that the soreness sets in and they realize something is actually wrong.
David Greene recently joined Studio 10 to talk about how that delay can affect an injury claim, and what to do if you didn’t get checked out immediately.
Why You Should See a Doctor Even If You Feel Okay
Adrenaline is a real factor. It masks pain in the short term, and by the time it wears off you may be far from the scene and already telling yourself you’re probably fine. David’s advice is the same regardless of how you feel: get checked out by a doctor after any accident, whether it’s a car, motorcycle, or bike accident.
He knows this firsthand. David had an ATV accident at his farm not long ago and called his physician immediately, even before he knew whether anything was seriously wrong. That instinct to document, even when you feel okay, is the right one.
The “Gap in Treatment” Problem
From a legal standpoint, delaying medical care creates what insurance companies call a gap in treatment. It’s one of their favorite arguments, and it’s effective. If you were injured on a Tuesday and didn’t see a doctor until the following week, the insurer will point to that gap and argue your injuries either weren’t serious or weren’t caused by the accident at all.
It doesn’t matter how much pain you were in during those days. Without documentation, it’s your word against theirs.
What If You Already Have a Gap?
Life gets in the way. People are on the way to work, dealing with family, or simply don’t realize how bad they’re hurt until later. A gap in treatment doesn’t necessarily ruin a claim, but it does make it harder.
The answer isn’t to give up. Go as soon as you can. Getting checked out late is far better than not getting checked out at all. Every day you wait after realizing something is wrong makes the gap argument stronger for the insurance company. And injuries that seem minor can turn into major problems three, six, or nine months down the road. You want that initial documentation in place before that happens.
The goal isn’t just to protect your case. It’s to make sure you’re actually okay. David puts it plainly: what your case eventually settles for matters less than making sure you’re well after everything is resolved. Medical documentation serves both purposes.
Not Sure Where You Stand?
If you were in an accident and have questions about how a delay in treatment might affect your claim, a conversation with Greene & Phillips costs nothing. You can reach the firm through the contact page, or stop by either office in Mobile or Birmingham. No appointment needed.
