Reports say that over four million people face motorcycle accidents every year in the United States. And their injuries range from broken bones and blemishes to paralysis and traumatic brain injuries.
If you have recently been in a car accident, it’s essential to seek medical attention immediately. And your injuries due to the accident must be assessed at the right time. So, consulting a car accident doctor immediately to assess the severity of your injuries and get them treated for a quick recovery is paramount.
According to your insurance policy, you may have a specific time limit to get medical treatment after an accident if you claim PIP (personal injury protection). This condition is referred to as a “statute of limitations.” Consult your car accident lawyer.
You are fortunate if you live in Irvine, California because the PIP coverage here includes some of the most essential expenses for accident-related injuries.
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When should you see a doctor after an accident?
The statutes of limitations for vehicle accident-related injuries differ from one state to another. The time limit to get medical treatment after accidents usually ranges from 72 hours to 14 days.
Hence, it’s important to see a doctor after your car accident as soon as possible and for a good number of reasons. However, one of the key reasons is for your own well-being.
If you follow the time range based on your policy or the place you live in the United States, your Irvine car accident lawyer can help you claim the insurance reimbursement.
During your consultation with your doctor to prepare a report to file a personal injury claim, follow the personal injury protection rules of your car insurance company.
3 Key Reasons To See A Doctor After A Car Accident
If you face a car accident, it is recommended that you see a doctor and get medical treatment within 72 hours of the accident. Let’s find out the three key reasons for seeking medical attention after a car accident:
Your doctor may detect any severe injuries resulting from your accident. You may not have any visible injuries, symptoms, or pain. However, you may have internal injuries that can get severe without timely treatment.
Apart from physical injuries, car accidents can cause mental stress too. So you must see a doctor to ensure that you aren’t suffering from emotional instability.
Finally, your wounds need to be officially documented in a medical report so that you can use it as evidence of your personal injury. It will help you calculate your medical expenses caused due to the accident.
Personal Injury Protection Coverage Following an Accident
Personal injury protection is a kind of coverage that many auto insurance policies offer. It covers several common medical expenses you will have to incur to treat or recover from the injuries of the accident. So make sure to read your insurance policy meticulously to know the coverage areas of your PIP insurance.
The specific expenses covered by the policy will vary according to the policy. However, the common costs and services covered include:
- Medical expenses: PIP insurance covers all past and future medical expenses for accident-related wounds and injuries, like ambulance costs, hospitalizations, surgeries, and medications.
- Lost wages: You may have to stop working for several days due to the severity of your injuries from the accident. So your PIP policy may even compensate you for the lost wages during your recovery period.
- Funeral expenses: Some people may be too unfortunate to suffer death in a car accident. Your PIP coverage can even offer compensation for the expenses of a burial, funeral, or other last-rite services.
Signs of Car Accident Injuries Can Emerge Late
Some injuries from car accidents can be internal, and symptoms of some serious injuries have been popping up lately. They can show up even several days or weeks after the accident.
For example, soft tissue injuries such as whiplash show symptoms later. You can feel the pain of whiplash days or hours after your car accident. It’s because the body takes time to swell up the injured point, and swelling leads to pain.
On the other hand, a concussion is a kind of traumatic brain injury that results from trauma to the head after an accident. Interestingly, even if you didn’t have any direct brain injuries, you can suffer from a concussion.
Here are some signs of concussion that can vary but may include:
- Cloudy thinking
- Headache
- Difficult to concentrate
- Blurry vision
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Low energy
- Balance problems
- Disturbed sleeping
Conclusion
If you feel you haven’t sustained any serious injuries, it’s better to get them assessed by a doctor. As mentioned above, some injuries can be internal and can show symptoms after several hours or days.
Moreover, you can claim your insurance coverage to meet the medical expenses incurred for your injuries from the car accident. But make sure you maintain the time period for seeking medical services as specifically stated in your policy.
