Vehicle accidents are going to occur on the roadways throughout Kentucky. When an accident does occur, it is crucial there any driver or passenger involved ensure that they are medically cared for after the incident. According to the Kentucky Department of Transportation, there were more than 34,000 total vehicle accident injuries across the Commonwealth during the latest reporting year. However, many of these personal injury accident victims did not seek medical care. Here, we want to discuss whether or not it is a good idea to refuse medical treatment after an auto accident in Kentucky.

Seeking Medical Care is Always Recommended

One of the first steps that any person involved in a vehicle accident needs to take is to check for injuries. They need to do a quick self-evaluation and then check on their passengers and others involved. If any party involved in a crash has sustained a noticeable injury, they must seek medical care immediately. Call 911 and let emergency room and medical personnel treat the injury and possibly transport the person to the hospital.

What if I Don’t Feel Injured?

This is a very common question that is often asked in the aftermath of a car accident. Even if a person involved in a car accident does not feel any pain, they should seek medical care anyway. It is important to point out that the signs and symptoms of many car accident injuries do not appear until hours or days after the incident occurs. When a vehicle crash occurs, the adrenaline that begins pumping through our bodies can mask any physical pain that we may be feeling. This is a natural response that allows us to get to safety after an accident occurs, but this could hide underlying medical issues.

Some of the most common injuries that lead to delayed signs and symptoms after a vehicle accident include:

• Whiplash
• Head injuries
• Internal bleeding
• Internal organ damage
• Hairline fractures
• Certain spinal cord injuries

Even if car accident victims feel no pain, they should seek medical attention at a doctor’s office or an emergency clinic to let a physician conduct an evaluation. This accomplishes two goals. First, seeking medical care ensures that the crash victim is taking care of their health. Second, seeking immediate medical care establishes a solid link between the crash and the injuries, which is something that insurance companies will look for when personal injury claims are filed.

Insurance Companies Do Not Like Delays

If an injury victim delays seeking medical treatment for a car accident injury or refuses any treatment at all, it is very unlikely that they will receive compensation for any medical expenses they may incur due to the accident. An insurance company can base their entire settlements on proof of loss. If you do not seek treatment from a qualified medical professional, it will be next to impossible to claim that you have sustained an injury and that you deserve compensation.

Contact a Car Accident Attorney for Help

If you or somebody you care about has been injured in a vehicle accident caused by the careless or negligent actions of another driver in Kentucky, you should seek legal advice as soon as possible. A car accident lawyer can get involved early in the case and conduct a complete investigation into the incident. They will be able to help determine liability and work with every party involved to reach a fair settlement for their client. An attorney will not be afraid to stand up to aggressive insurance carriers or at-fault parties as they work to ensure their client is treated fairly. Contact our law firm for assistance with your car accident claim.