Thousands of people are injured in car accidents every year in South Carolina. According to the South Carolina Department of Public Safety, more than 55,000 people sustained injuries in crashes in S.C. in a recent year, including 3,200 people who were seriously injured.
People who sustain severe crash injuries generally go by ambulance to a hospital. But those who have less-threatening injuries may decline emergency medical treatment and delay seeing a doctor. This is often a mistake. Some significant injuries may not be immediately apparent. The onset of pain and other symptoms may occur days or weeks afterward.
If you are in an accident, you need to get checked out by a doctor as soon as possible to diagnose any injuries and treat them. Inform the doctor you were in a collision. Many people who are injured in crashes don’t receive the insurance settlements they should get because their injuries were not well documented.
If you’re wondering if you should see a doctor after a car accident, you should. Failing to see a doctor can weaken any claim for compensation you might need to file later. Once you have begun medical treatment, contact a South Carolina car accident lawyer to discuss the accident and whether a personal injury claim is appropriate. The Rock Hill personal injury attorneys at McKinney, Tucker & Lemel LLC, have been fighting for the rights of car accident victims for decades. We know how to pursue the full compensation you need after an accident. Contact us today for a free initial consultation.
How Long Do You Have to Go to a Doctor After a Car Accident?
There’s no law that says you have to see a doctor within a certain amount of time after a car crash. However, your insurance company may have a deadline by which you have to see a doctor if you’re going to file a claim. These deadlines vary across insurance companies and range from just a few days (often only 72 hours) to a few weeks after the accident.
The bottom line is that if you wait too long to see a doctor after a car accident, you may have difficulty connecting your injuries to the collision. An insurance company may dispute the link between your injuries and the crash and question paying for your medical expenses and other losses.
Why You Should See a Doctor Right Away
If you aren’t brought to a hospital from the accident scene, you should see a doctor within 24 to 48 hours for a full evaluation. You may have undiagnosed internal injuries that could become worse without treatment. Seeing a doctor as soon as you can after an accident increases your chances of receiving the treatment you need.
A doctor’s evaluation of your injuries also is crucial if you need to pursue a personal injury claim. The medical report documents your injuries and how they occurred. If you wait too long to see a doctor, the other party’s insurance company might use that delay as a reason to deny your claim. The insurer may contend that since you didn’t see a doctor immediately after the car accident, your injuries were not caused by the accident, or that your delay in seeking treatment caused your injuries to worsen.
To protect your right to pursue compensation after a car accident, you’ll want to see a doctor and get your injuries treated and documented as quickly as possible.
What is The Statute of Limitations Following an Accident?
Most car accident claims are resolved in out-of-court agreements between the injured person and the insurance company representing the at-fault driver. However, there are times when an insurance company won’t negotiate in good faith or offer a fair settlement. It may be necessary to file a civil lawsuit and take a case to trial to seek justice.
Under South Carolina law, you generally have three years from the date of the crash that injured you to file a personal injury lawsuit. If you miss the deadline, you will most likely be denied the chance to recover any compensation for your injuries. There are certain circumstances under which the three-year deadline may be extended after an accident, such as in cases where the injuries were not discovered or diagnosed until some after the crash.
Car Accident Injuries Can Appear Late
Injuries such as broken bones or cuts are usually easy to see after a car accident, but some injuries aren’t immediately obvious. Whiplash injuries, for example, often don’t fully manifest until a few hours or days after an accident. Some types of traumatic brain injuries are difficult to detect until their effects become more pronounced. A trained medical professional may recognize signs of internal injuries or internal bleeding before they are apparent.
For this reason, it’s important to see a doctor as soon as possible after an accident. A medical professional may be able to identify and treat injuries you’re not even aware of yet. If you develop new symptoms after your first visit to a doctor, make sure to get a new appointment right away.
How Seeking Help From a Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help
After seeking medical treatment, you should consult with a knowledgeable personal injury lawyer about your legal rights. If you contact a lawyer at McKinney, Tucker & Lemel LLC today, we can answer your questions at no charge and discuss the proper steps to take.
An experienced lawyer can help you identify all the parties who may be liable for your injuries, such as the other driver, the other driver’s employer, or the manufacturer of one of the vehicles involved. A personal injury attorney at McKinney, Tucker & Lemel can help you pursue compensation for the full range of losses you’ve suffered. If you cannot reach a fair agreement with the other driver’s insurance company, a car accident lawyer can bring your case to court and fight aggressively for the outcome you need.
Contact a South Carolina Car Accident Lawyer Today
A South Carolina car accident lawyer can protect your rights throughout the injury claims process. We will work closely with you to make the process go as smoothly as possible. Contact McKinney, Tucker & Lemel LLC today for a free initial consultation with a Rock Hill car accident attorney.
