Once you call a law enforcement officer to arrive at the scene of your personal injury accident, they may dispatch an ambulance on your behalf. With this, you must agree to immediate medical care conducted by emergency first responders. Denying this treatment may negatively impact your personal health and your personal injury claim alike. Follow along to find out how receiving medical care can support your claim and how a proficient Washington, D.C. injury lawyer at Simeone & Miller, LLP can start building your legal strategy.
How can immediate medical care support my health?
Your initial reaction may be to reject medical attention if you do not detect any injuries or feel any pain. However, it may be a mistake to do so. This is because there are many injuries that may not surface until the days, weeks, or even months following a personal injury accident.
Examples include concussions and other brain injuries, internal bleeding, and soft tissue injuries. This may even apply to mental injuries, such as anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder. So, immediate medical care may allow such injuries to be diagnosed straight away, which subsequently allows them to be more easily treated down the road.
How can immediate medical care support my claim?
It may be in your best interest to submit to an initial medical examination at the scene; an ambulance ride to the hospital; and additional tests and treatments at the hospital. This is because, along the way, you may gather relevant evidence to support your claim. This may include medical bills, doctor’s notes, X-ray scans, etc.
By waiting too long, you give the defendant and their legal team to build sustainable arguments against you. For one, they may claim that your injuries are not directly tied to the events of the accident. In addition, they may claim that your injuries are not as severe as you have led on.
How quickly should I file my claim?
Lastly, you must seek medical care sooner rather than later in consideration of Washington, D.C.’s statute of limitations. That is, you may only have three years from the date on which your accident occurred to bring forward your personal injury claim.
And, evidently, you must supplement your claim with the evidence you collected of your medical care. You must also have a solid understanding of the extent of your injuries, so you know how much financial compensation to fairly seek out. Therefore, you may be risking your opportunity to pursue legal action if you wait too long to pursue medical care.
Overall, you must take your personal injury claim seriously. So pick up the phone and call a talented Washington, D.C. injury lawyer today. Someone at Simeone & Miller, LLP will be happy to answer.