Immediately following your personal injury accident, you may be unable to process what exactly happened to you. So if you only have the capacity to maintain a one-track mind, it should be directed toward calling for medical care. This may just make or break your claim, if you choose to file one later on. Continue reading to learn the consequences of denying medical care and how an experienced Hillsborough County personal injury lawyer at Merricks Law Group, P.A. can work to strengthen your claim.
What are the consequences of denying immediate medical care in a personal injury claim?
As the plaintiff of a personal injury claim, you carry a burden of proof; meaning you must present a sufficient amount of evidence in your claim proceedings. That said, the documents that come with your immediate medical care (i.e., medical bills, doctor’s notes, test results, etc.) are pertinent to proving your injuries’ relevance in your personal injury accident. In other words, by forgoing this medical attention, you may be facing the following consequences with your claim:
- You may be unable to prove that your injuries are directly tied to the events of your accident.
- You may be unable to prove that your injuries were due directly to the fault of the defendant.
- You may be unable to prove that your injuries are as severe as you have claimed.
What approach should I take instead?
You may think that you narrowly escaped your personal injury accident, with just a few cuts and bruises to show for it. However, later on, you do not want to regret having rejected medical care. This is why it may be in your best interest to take the following approach instead:
- Call a law enforcement officer to the scene, so that they may dispatch an ambulance on your behalf.
- Attend to the paramedics and EMTs who arrive at the scene, so that they may conduct an initial medical examination on you.
- Allow the paramedics and EMTs to strap you onto a stretcher, so that they may transport you to the emergency room.
- Speak with medical professionals in the emergency room, so that they may understand your condition and conduct additional medical examinations.
- Ask for copies of medical bills, doctor’s notes, and test results related to your emergency room visit.
- Abide by the treatment plan prescribed to you by the medical professionals:
- Scheduling follow-up appointments with your primary physician.
- Attending physical therapy sessions.
- Taking prescription medications.
- Utilizing handicap assistive devices.
This is all to say that you must take your personal injury claim seriously. So pick up the phone and call a skilled Hillsborough County personal injury lawyer today. Someone at Merricks Law Group, P.A. will be happy to answer.
