There is no set deadline for how long you have to go to the hospital after a crash in New Jersey. However, it’s vital that you seek medical care as soon as possible after the accident. It may be tempting to simply brush off your injuries and move on with your day. However, some injuries occur internally, are slow to present, or aren’t visible.
Whether you have minor aches and pains or more serious symptoms, seek medical care. It’s always better to be safe than sorry. Read on to get more answers on, ‘How long do I have to go to the hospital after a car accident in NJ?’
Reasons Why You Should Go to the Hospital Immediately After a Car Accident
You now know that you should seek medical treatment soon after a New Jersey car accident. Here’s more on why you should do so.
Some Car Accident Injuries May Only Be Apparent Upon Examination
It’s not uncommon for people to walk away from car accidents seeming uninjured. However, some injuries may not be immediately apparent after a car accident. They might not manifest until hours or even days later.
Examples of injuries that may not be immediately noticeable are brain injuries, like concussions, and soft tissue injuries, like whiplash. . Even if you don’t lose consciousness in the accident, you may still have a head injury. Other symptoms like dizziness, confusion, and vomiting may not appear until later.
Another injury that may not be instantly obvious is internal bleeding. You may not realize that you have the injury until you pass out or start feeling pain.
If you go to the hospital soon after the accident, the doctor will examine you for such injuries. You will then receive the necessary treatment.
Waiting Too Long May Worsen Your Condition
After a crash, you may want to know, ‘How long do I have to go to the hospital after a car accident in NJ?’ There’s no written rule as to when you should seek medical care. However, it is widely known that you should do so as soon as possible. One of the reasons why is that waiting too long may worsen your condition. That is especially true if you have sustained serious injuries.
Even if you don’t think you have serious injuries, it’s better to err on the side of caution. As mentioned earlier, some injuries aren’t visible. These types of injuries can worsen and even become life-threatening if left untreated.
Delaying Treatment May Make It Harder to Link the Accident to Your Injuries
If you wait too long to seek treatment, it can become difficult to prove that the accident caused your injuries. The longer you wait, the more likely other factors could have contributed to your injuries. Examples are a pre-existing condition or a subsequent injury.
An insurer may have stronger grounds to refuse to compensate you if you wait to seek treatment. They may argue that something other than the car accident could have caused your injuries.
So, going to the hospital helps to establish a clear connection between the accident and your injuries. Showing a link helps in proving liability and recovering compensation.
Medical Records Are Vital in the Fight for Compensation
When you go to the hospital after a car crash, you’ll receive a thorough evaluation of all your injuries. Evaluation will help the doctor administer the right treatment. It will also help them create a clear record of your injuries from the accident.
A detailed medical record can be very useful when claiming compensation. Insurance companies and courts often rely on medical records as evidence. The records can help to establish the severity of your injuries and the extent of your medical bills. This is crucial in determining the amount of compensation you should receive.
Delaying Treatment Can Derail Your Fight for Compensation
Seeking medical care after the accident helps in the documentation of your injuries. It can be tough to prove your injuries if you don’t go to the hospital. That will jeopardize your ability to seek compensation.
Also, if you delay, an insurer may argue that your injuries aren’t as severe as you claim. This can make it more difficult to recover the compensation you need to cover your losses.
Safeguard Your Car Accident Case by Seeking Medical Treatment
Ensure you seek medical care soon after leaving the car accident site. Doing so will safeguard your health and your right to fair compensation. A lawyer can handle the compensation process as you recover.
Help with Your Car Accident Injury Claim
If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident caused by someone else’s recklessness or negligence, you don’t deserve to shoulder the cost of those injuries on your own. The New Jersey car accident lawyers of Brandon J. Broderick, Attorney at Law, can help. Our experienced, compassionate attorneys understand what you’re going through and will work tirelessly to prove your claim and get you the compensation you deserve.
We have decades of experience and the results to prove it.* We take on insurance companies who are denying or devaluing claims and handle all communication and negotiation. Why risk being unfairly compensated for an accident that wasn’t your fault? Contact us today and let us turn your setback into a comeback.