Were you or a loved one injured in a car accident? If you were, you might be given the option of being treated in a local emergency room. You should accept any such treatment if it is offered to ensure you get the medical care and support you need. Some car accident injuries can be invisible to you, like soft tissue and internal injuries, so refusing treatment can be potentially hazardous to your health.
If you or someone you love sustained serious injuries in a car accident, the decision to accept or refuse emergency medical support might be taken out of your hands. If you lost consciousness, for example, the police who respond to the accident will summon emergency medical technicians to the accident scene. A personal injury lawyer near you can explain everything your need to know about going to the ER after a car accident.
Do Not Overlook the Importance of Prompt Medical Attention
The Insurance Information Institute (III) guidelines recommend assessing your injuries and those of anyone else involved in the accident and calling 911 for emergency medical help if needed.
When you arrive at the ER, describe your injuries in detail to ensure you receive appropriate treatment. Your concern should be your health and recovery. The lawyer who represents you will ensure the at-fault party is held accountable for the costs you incur.
Common Car Accident Injuries That Can Require Emergency Care
A minor car accident can result in injuries that seem minor, like cuts, scrapes, and bruises. These can hide internal injuries, though, that can only be detected by a health care professional.
More serious car accident injuries can include:
- Fractured and broken bones
- Head and neck injuries
- Back and spinal cord injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
These injuries are serious, can be life-threatening, and usually require immediate treatment. Your emergency medical team will stabilize your injuries, provide triage care, and prescribe a long-term treatment plan.
For a free legal consultation, call (404) 888-8888
Car Accidents FAQs
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A trip to the ER after a car accident can ensure you receive treatment for obvious and unseen injuries. It can also ensure injuries do not worsen due to inattention. At the ER:
- You will receive a thorough medical assessment
- Your injuries will be diagnosed and treated
Nurses and physicians in the ER will start a chart that will document your injuries upon arrival. These and other medical records can bolster and support your case for financial compensation.
Who Will Cover the Cost of My Visit to the ER?
If you live in a state where PIP (personal injury protection) is part of your auto insurance policy, it will cover the costs of your ER visit and many other costs associated with treating your injuries.
If you live in a fault state, the driver whose negligence was the cause of the accident will be responsible for the cost of your ER visit. The personal injury lawyer who represents you will explain how your immediate, current, and future medical care costs can be covered by pursuing the at-fault party or their insurance company.
What Other Forms of Compensation Can I Request?
Emergency care is only the beginning of the expenses you will incur after a car accident. You are also entitled to the following:
- Loss of income
- Pain and suffering
- Property loss
- Wrongful death damages
Your lawyer will help you build a strong case for financial compensation. Evidence like your medical records, car accident report, and witness statements. Where applicable, we will obtain salary history records and a loved one’s death certificate.
How Long Do I Have to File a Car Accident Lawsuit?
Your state will have a statute of limitations that governs how much time you have to file a lawsuit against the at-fault party. If you or a loved one was injured, your statute of limitations will start on the day your accident happened. If someone you love was fatally injured, your statute of limitations will start on the date of your loved one’s demise.
If the statute of limitations runs out before your lawsuit is filed:
- It cannot be filed at all
- It will be immediately dismissed
Either of these outcomes will mean you cannot legally compel the at-fault driver to compensate you. A personal injury lawyer will ensure your case is filed on time and ensure you avoid these potentially costly consequences.
Get Immediate Help From Our Personal Injury Law Firm
If you or someone you love was injured in a car accident, you should accept any emergency care you are offered. Treatment of your injuries should not be compromised by concern about their costs. Our car accident lawyer will explain what you need to know about going to the ER after a car accident and recovering financial compensation.
Get started today by contacting one of our Bader Scott Injury Lawyers today.
Call or text (404) 888-8888 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
