The National Center for Health Statistics reports that nearly 3.5 million Americans visit hospitals each year after sustaining injuries in car accidents. An Indiana car accident lawyer will typically tell you that going to the hospital following a car crash is a great idea.
The vast majority of Americans — roughly 85% — aren’t admitted to hospitals when they visit them to seek treatment for car accident injuries. But even still, receiving emergency medical treatment at a hospital after an Indiana car accident is important for several key reasons.
Find out why you should take a trip to the nearest hospital in the immediate aftermath of a car accident in Indiana.
Provides You With Official Diagnoses for Car Accident Injuries
Right after a car accident in Indiana, you might not feel as though you sustained any injuries. But oftentimes, adrenaline makes it hard for people to realize they’re hurt.
Once it wears off, you might find that your head, neck, back, chest, or limbs hurt. This is one of the first reasons why an Indiana car accident lawyer will tell you to always visit a hospital after a car accident for an evaluation from medical professionals.
The doctors and nurses at a hospital can check you from head to toe for signs of car accident injuries. They can also provide official diagnoses for your injuries and deliver injury documentation that can come in handy if you choose to secure legal representation and file a compensation claim.
Shows Your Injuries Stem From a Car Accident
If you do plan to take legal action following a car crash, one of the things your Indiana car accident lawyer will need to do is prove the injuries you sustained were caused by your crash and not something else. You might make their job harder than it has to be if you don’t take the time to visit a hospital so a medical professional can document your injuries.
The auto insurance company for the defendant in your car accident case might ask your Indiana car accident lawyer, “How can we be sure your client didn’t suffer these injuries in some other kind of accident that didn’t involve our client?”
The easiest way to combat this tactic is by going to the hospital from the start. An insurance company can’t make this same argument against providing you with maximum compensation when you can show them medical records collected on the day of your car crash.
Costs Nothing If You Successfully File a Lawsuit To Cover Medical Expenses
Some people steer clear of heading to a hospital after an Indiana car accident because of the medical expenses that often come along with doing it. However, you might not have to worry about paying a penny to a hospital. Your car crash injuries may justify filing a lawsuit against a driver who demonstrated negligence and caused your crash.
Your Indiana car accident attorney can argue that this driver and their insurance company should provide compensation to cover your medical expenses along with any other accident-related costs you’re currently facing.
Let an Indiana Car Accident Lawyer Discuss Your Legal Options With You
You’ll need to take a series of steps after your involvement in an Indiana car accident to put yourself in a position to make a complete recovery. For instance, you should call the police, seek medical attention right away, and avoid speaking with your own auto insurance company until you have legal representation on your side.
An Indiana car accident lawyer from Stewart & Stewart Attorneys can assist you by creating a compelling case. Call us at 1-800-333-3529 to start the process.