How Long After a Car Accident Can I Seek Medical Treatment in North Carolina?

It’s critical to seek medical attention within 72 hours of a car accident to protect your health and right to compensation. Delaying treatment may cause your injuries to worsen or provide insurance companies with a ready-made excuse to question whether the injuries actually stemmed from the crash. Document any unavoidable delays and inform your attorney immediately.

Too often, accident victims put off getting medical attention because they mistakenly believe their injuries are minor or that they won’t be able to afford the cost of treatment. However, delaying care doesn’t just hurt your health: it can also affect your car accident claim. An experienced North Carolina car accident attorney can help promote your healing process while also using your treatment records to pursue compensation from those responsible for the accident.

Why Should I See a Doctor Within 72 Hours?

It’s critically important to seek medical treatment after a car accident as soon as possible, ideally within 72 hours at the latest. Even if you feel fine, some car accident injuries like whiplash, concussions, or soft tissue damage may not manifest symptoms right away. Prompt medical attention ensures your injuries get correctly diagnosed and treated before they worsen and cause significant or chronic pain and impairment.

From a legal perspective, seeing a doctor quickly also helps create a link between the accident and your injuries. Auto insurance companies often look for reasons to deny or reduce claims. If you wait too long to seek treatment, they may argue that your injuries weren’t serious, that you worsened them by failing to seek medical treatment, or that they’re unrelated to the accident. Visiting a doctor within the recommended 72-hour window counteracts these arguments and strengthens your personal injury claim.

What Doctor Should I See After My Car Accident?

The type of medical practitioner you should see after a car crash depends on the severity of your injuries. An emergency room or trauma center is best suited for cases of serious injuries and those with immediately dangerous implications.

Minor injuries may be addressed within 72 hours by your primary care physician or other healthcare provider. Depending on your diagnosis, your primary care doctor may refer you to specialists who can help address your specific injuries, like an orthopedist, physiatrist, or plastic surgeon.

Medical care professionals who can help assess and treat your accident-related injuries include:

• Emergency room
• Urgent Care
• Primary care doctor
• Specialist referrals

These medical practitioners understand how to care for accident victims and can provide the treatment options and resources you need to begin recovery.

If I Don’t Seek Medical Treatment As Soon As Possible, Will It Affect My Car Accident Claim?

Delaying or avoiding seeking medical treatment for your accident-related injuries can have a considerable impact on the value of your car accident claim. Insurance companies often use gaps in treatment as a reason to deny or reduce compensation. If you fail to see a doctor, it is easy for an insurer to claim your injuries are not as serious as you say or that they are due to a pre-existing condition and were not a direct result of the motor vehicle accident.

Promptly seeking medical care protects both your health and your legal rights. Medical bills and records from the first few days after the crash provide critical evidence that can help connect your injuries to the accident. Without that documentation, it is much harder to prove the cause and the implications of your injuries.

Let your attorney know if there was a reason you did not seek immediate treatment, such as a lack of transportation, work conflicts, or delayed symptoms. An experienced car accident lawyer may help explain the situation and protect your claim. However, the sooner you seek medical care, the better.

What Does ‘Delayed Injury’ Mean?

A delayed injury is an injury from an accident that doesn’t show symptoms right away. A car accident is a frightening event. The adrenaline and shock of the experience can mask pain or discomfort. As a result, symptoms like headaches, back pain, stiffness, or numbness may appear hours, days, or even weeks later.

Common delayed injuries for car accident victims include whiplash, soft tissue injuries, concussions, and internal injuries, such as internal bleeding. When left untreated, these conditions can worsen over time and lead to significant complications or long-term health problems.

That’s why it’s so important to get medical attention right away, even if you feel fine initially. A doctor can identify hidden or latent injuries early, giving you the best chance to recover fully.

What Are the Symptoms of Delayed Injuries?

The signs of delayed injuries can take time to manifest. Some of the most common indications that a person may have delayed injuries following an auto accident include:

• Headache
• Muscle aches
• Stiffness
• Pain
• Dizziness
• Numbness or tingling
• Fatigue
• Nausea
• Swelling
• Irritability
• Changes in vision or hearing
• Cognitive problems, such as an inability to concentrate or memory issues

Can I Sue for Injuries I Discover After My Car Accident?

Yes, you can sue for injuries you discover after a car accident. However, car accident lawsuits must be filed within a specific timeframe. North Carolina law gives accident victims three years from the date of the accident to file their case. If your injuries were not immediately apparent, the clock may not start running until the day you discover or should reasonably have discovered your injuries, rather than the day of the accident.

Speak with a car accident attorney as soon as possible to preserve crucial evidence and understand your legal options.

Contact a North Carolina Car Accident Lawyer

The car accident lawyers at The Law Offices of John Drew Warlick, P.A., have extensive experience delivering results on behalf of clients like you. Our three generations of attorneys are proud to serve Jacksonville residents. Our full-service firm is well-established in the community and has the resources it takes to provide personalized and effective legal representation that clients can count on.

Contact our North Carolina office today and arrange a free consultation 24/7. Let us demand the money you need to put your life back together.

Visit Our North Carolina Car Accident Law Offices