We always tell our clients that there are three things they need to do immediately after their car accident. The first thing they need to do is call the cops. Like it or not, you need to call 911. The dispatcher will send a team of officers out to the car accident scene to do a thorough investigation. The second thing you need to do is go to the hospital. Finally, once you make sure you’re okay, you should call an experienced Santa Ana car accident lawyer. They can review your case and find out if there’s enough evidence to prove fault. They also need to ensure that there’s ample proof to secure you damages.
Here, we’ll discuss why it’s so important to go to the hospital after your car accident. We offer all new clients a free, initial consultation. It gives you a chance to have a seasoned accident attorney in Santa Ana review your case and tell you whether it’s worth pursuing. As long as you went to the hospital for treatment of your accident injuries, there’s a good chance you’ll be able to win your case.
The Most Important Reason to Seek Medical Treatment is to Make Sure You’re Okay
Obviously, the most important reason for you to go to the hospital is to make sure you’re okay. Just because you feel fine in the moments after your car accident, that doesn’t mean you’re fine. You have no idea whether you are injured or not. You could have internal injuries and have no idea. You may have suffered a traumatic brain injury that will continue to get worse until it is treated. In fact, some injuries can prove fatal if not treated right away.
You Don’t Want to Give the Defendant a Chance to Say Something Else Caused Your Injuries
The longer you wait to go to the hospital, the easier it will be for the defendant’s attorney to convince the judge that something else caused your injuries. For example, imagine that you wait two weeks to go to the hospital. You thought you were fine and then realized something was off. You’ve been suffering from headaches and trouble with your vision. A friend tells you that you may have a concussion or something worse.
When the defendant learns that you waited so long to seek medical treatment, they will claim that your injuries weren’t caused by the car accident. They’ll claim that something other than the crash caused your physical injuries. For example, they may say that you were involved in a separate accident that was more serious than your first one. Or they may claim that you got hurt at work and are trying to get a big payday from the insurance company. Neither of these things are good.
Your Santa Ana car accident lawyer will have to specifically prove that the other driver caused the crash. They will also need to demonstrate that nothing interceded in the time between the crash and your visit to the emergency room.
Your Santa Ana Car Accident Lawyer Needs Proof That You Were Hurt
If you do need to file a lawsuit against the other driver, your accident attorney in Santa Ana will need to prove that you were hurt. The best way to do this is to submit a copy of your medical records to the court. The more detailed your medical records, the better your chances of recovering damages.
While you will need a copy of your medical records to prove injury, you will also need them to prove fault. For example, imagine that you were involved in a rear-end collision. The other driver was the rear driver. You suffered whiplash, a broken wrist, and a traumatic brain injury. The defendant is claiming that your injuries were not caused by your car accident. The doctor will be able to say, with relative specificity, whether your injuries were the result of a motor vehicle accident. In fact, your Santa Ana car accident lawyer may need to hire experts to prove this. You can avoid all of this by going to the emergency room immediately after your car crash as suggested here.
Let One of Our Accident Attorneys in Santa Ana Negotiate a Settlement of Your Claim
If you have been injured in a car accident, there’s a good chance you’ll be entitled to damages. For example, if you suffered any physical injuries, you will be able to demand compensation for any medical bills you incur. You can also demand compensation for any time you missed from work. Sometimes, our car accident attorneys in Santa Ana are able to prove that you are entitled to lost future income. It all depends on the nature and seriousness of your injuries.
What we try to do is negotiate a settlement on behalf of our clients. If we can do this early enough in the case, it will save you a lot of time and headache. Rather than wait months or even years to see a penny, your Santa Ana accident lawyer can negotiate a lump sum settlement on your behalf. This way, you walk away with any settlement proceeds that remain once your attorney is paid and any outstanding medical bills are taken care of.
Since we offer all new clients a free, initial consultation, we suggest you call and set up a date and time to come into the office. Sit down with an experienced car accident attorney in Santa Ana free of charge. This gives you a chance to find out if you have a claim worth pursuing. We may even be able to give you an idea of what your case is worth. Since the consultation is free, and since you don’t have to pay anything upfront, you have nothing to lose.
