If you’ve suffered an injury in an accident caused by another party’s carelessness, you are entitled to pursue monetary compensation for your resulting damages. To maximize your potential award, it’s essential to meticulously record all of your losses. Putting off or refusing medical treatment immediately following the accident can undermine your ability to secure the necessary compensation to rebuild your life. Continue reading to learn how delaying medical treatment can harm your case and how our committed Queens Personal Injury Attorneys can assist you during these difficult times.
What Causes People to Delay Accident-Related Medical Treatment?
After an accident in New York, most victims defer or forgo immediate medical attention for various reasons that often seem justifiable initially. These reasons often include an initial belief that symptoms are minor or absent, the masking effect of adrenaline, the inconvenience of fitting an appointment into a busy routine, and anxieties surrounding the potential financial burden of healthcare costs.
What Are the Consequences of Delaying Care?
Delaying medical treatment can have serious consequences, as many injuries don’t manifest clear symptoms until several days after the initial impact. Furthermore, a gap between the accident and your first doctor’s visit can weaken your claim by allowing insurance companies to argue that the injuries were either not caused by the crash or are not as serious as claimed.
Prompt medical documentation is the critical first step in securing proper diagnosis and treatment, as well as establishing the necessary proof for legal action. It’s advisable to see a healthcare provider within 72 hours of the accident, regardless of how minor your injuries may seem. This ensures that underlying issues are identified early and that a well-documented record of care is established.
Can Treatment Delays Affect My Ability to Recover Compensation?
If you delay medical treatment after an accident, it’s crucial to understand that it could result in less compensation than you would’ve been awarded otherwise. New York is a pure comparative negligence state. This means that you can recover compensation for your damages even if you were partially responsible for the accident. However, your compensation will be reduced in proportion to your degree of fault.
Although immediate medical consultation is ideal, you can still improve your legal position by seeking medical care without delay, giving a thorough explanation for the postponement to both your physician and attorney, and meticulously recording every symptom.
At the Law Offices of George Poulos, we are prepared to help you navigate this complex process and fight for the maximum compensation you’re entitled to. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.