When is it too late to go to the doctor after a car accident? It is never too late to go to a doctor after a car accident. If you have injuries, you need treatment. However, if you wait too long, the statute of limitations for personal injury may expire.
Whether you waited weeks or days after a crash, you can still hope to recover compensation, but you may face objections. A Houston car accident lawyer explains the issues and how a lawyer may be able to help.
Complications From Delaying Medical Treatment After a Car Accident
We advise people to see a doctor right after an accident, even if they do not think they are injured. Symptoms of internal injuries can take days or weeks to appear.
A doctor can give you a health check. If they do not spot any signs of trouble at first, they will tell you about symptoms to look out for.
There are several problems with waiting until you feel discomfort before seeing a doctor:
- Your injuries might get worse and cost more to treat
- It might take longer to recover
- It is harder to prove that your injuries come from the accident
When you are seeking compensation, it is important to show causation in the law. If you see a doctor soon after the accident, it is easy to see that it caused your injuries. If you wait till it is too late to go to a doctor after a car accident, there may be objections to your claim.
Arguments Insurance Companies May Raise for Lack of Medical Care
For the sake of your health, it is never too late to go to the doctor after a car accident. However, insurance companies might say you have waited too long. This can be very awkward if you are trying to get help with your costs after an accident.
The arguments they raise include:
- You were not hurt in the accident
- You are not as badly injured as you claim to be
- You made your injuries worse, so you should get less compensation
- Because you waited, your loss of income during recovery is your own fault
This sounds very gloomy, but don’t lose hope. It might be tough for you to persuade insurance companies or litigate on your own. However, the right lawyer can still help you to get the compensation you deserve.
How an Attorney Can Help if You Wait to Go to the Doctor After a Car Accident
Insurance companies are motivated by profit. They will always pay the minimum compensation they can get away with. Waiting until it is too late to see a doctor after a car accident makes it likely that they will query your claim, try to reduce it, or even reject it.
With the right person to negotiate on your behalf, they may be more willing to soften their stance. That is because they understand how the burden of proof works in civil law. In civil cases, we only need evidence showing that there is a greater than 50% chance that the car accident is to blame for your injuries.
If we can build a strong case, insurance companies must consider whether to settle or proceed to court. If they can see you have good representation and they are not likely to win, they will prefer to save the money it would cost them to go to court.
How Late is “Too Late” to Go to the Doctor After a Car Accident and Still File a Claim?
Seeing a doctor is one of the 5 things to do after your car accident in Texas. The best advice is to see a doctor as soon as possible, even if you don’t think you’ve been injured. A simple fender bender can lead to serious internal injuries. Get checked out and follow doctors’ orders closely.
If you haven’t done this, it’s better to do it sooner. Depending on the type of injury you have, there might not be too many issues if you only went to a doctor after a couple of days’ wait. The longer you wait, the more likely it is for your injuries to get worse and the less likely you are to get full compensation.
However, if your injury took weeks to show up, and you only saw a doctor after that, you can still file a claim. Before doing so, consult a Houston personal injury lawyer. Your first consultation is free, and American Bar Ethics Opinions expect lawyers to tell you about any legal challenges you may face.
What if You Were Injured Years Ago?
If you were injured years ago and did not claim, it is likely you saw a doctor somewhere along the line. Unfortunately, there is a time limit on filing for damages. The Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Chapter 16. Limitations state that you have two years from the date of an accident to claim.
There is one exception to this rule. If you were injured as a child, the two-year time limit begins on your 18th birthday. If your parents did not claim for your injuries, you may be able to. In this case, it is not too late to go to the doctor, even if there is not much they can do for you.
Medical records from the time of your accident should be available. However, you may want evidence from a doctor about how your injuries affect you right now. For example, if they limit your ability to fulfill your potential or you are disabled, your doctor’s opinion will be important evidence.
How Our Team Can Help, Even if You Were Slow to See a Doctor
Even if you think it is too late to go to a doctor after a car accident, there is a chance you can get compensation for your injuries. We will provide you with an honest and professional opinion to help you decide whether to proceed with filing.
Apart from representing you and fighting your case, we may be able to help with expert witnesses. They may be able to testify about whether it is likely your injuries came from the crash and whether waiting really made them worse.
Every case is unique, so schedule an appointment with Lowe Law to receive our perspective on yours.
