Waiting To Get Checked Could Cost You Big Time
There are a variety of reasons why people do not get checked by a medical professional after an accident. Some of those are: no health insurance, fear of the cost of the ambulance ride and hospital visit, or maybe their primary care doctor does not see accident patients. Often individuals think they are not injured and try to feel better by taking over-the-counter pain medications, soaking in the tub, or just bed rest — hoping the pain will go away.
When the pain does not go away, often times they have waited a week, a month, or even several months to see a medical provider. We have found that in these situations it adversely affects their claim.
Insurance companies love to see a delay in treatment or gaps in care so they can put the blame back on the patient for not getting checked out and potentially worsening their own condition. It gives them a ready-made argument that your injuries weren’t that serious, or that something else caused them after the accident.
There have been multiple recent cases in Colorado where jurors have come back with a verdict for the defendant because the plaintiff failed to get treatment and waited too long to see a doctor. Don’t give the other side that ammunition.
What many accident victims don’t realize is that there are plenty of doctors in the Colorado Springs area who are more than willing to provide care and wait to be paid once a claim resolves. You do not need to have health insurance or money in the bank to get the medical attention you need after an accident. Your health comes first, and the right legal team can help you navigate the rest.
Why Prompt Medical Attention Matters For Your Claim
Beyond your physical recovery, getting checked out quickly after an accident creates a critical paper trail that directly supports your personal injury claim. Medical records documenting your injuries, the timeline of treatment, and the progression of your recovery are some of the most powerful pieces of evidence in any accident case. Without them, it becomes a he-said-she-said situation that is much harder to win.
This is especially true for injuries that aren’t immediately obvious. Soft tissue injuries, whiplash, spinal injuries, and traumatic brain injuries can take hours or even days to fully manifest. Just because you walked away from the scene feeling relatively okay doesn’t mean you weren’t seriously hurt. Getting examined right away establishes a baseline and ensures that any delayed symptoms are properly connected to the accident rather than something that could be attributed to an unrelated cause later on.
If you were involved in a car accident, a truck accident, or a motorcycle accident and are experiencing pain — even if it seems minor — please see a doctor as soon as possible. Then give us a call. Our team can help connect you with medical providers who understand accident cases and will work with you on payment until your claim resolves.
Don’t Let Insurance Companies Use Delays Against You
Insurance adjusters are trained to look for anything they can use to reduce or deny your claim, and a gap in medical treatment is one of their favorite tactics. They will argue that if you were really hurt, you would have gone to the doctor immediately. They will point to the delay as evidence that the accident didn’t cause your injuries, or that your injuries aren’t as serious as you claim.
An experienced attorney can help push back against these tactics, but it is always easier to build a strong case when you have consistent, well-documented medical treatment from the start. The statute of limitations also puts a deadline on when you can file a claim in Colorado, so the sooner you take action on both the medical and legal fronts, the better.
If you have been in an accident and are dealing with spine injuries, neck injuries, back injuries, or any other pain and are not sure where to turn, contact Rector Stuzynski Law Firm for guidance. We will help you understand your options, connect you with the right medical providers, and fight to get you the compensation you deserve. Call us anytime at (719) 578-1106 for a free consultation with the best car accident attorneys in Colorado Springs.
