Following a car accident, you may suffer a number of injuries, ranging from stiffness and sensitivity to broken bones and contusions. Often, people are reluctant to seek treatment for these injuries due to the costs involved in visiting a hospital. However, it is important to be examined by a medical professional who can fully diagnose the extent of your injuries and provide care and treatment for any problems you may be experiencing.
It’s also important to obtain medical treatment for another reason. Injured parties who later pursue legal claims need proof of their damages. It is not enough to simply state that you were injured — you also need to show documentation that details the specific types of injuries you suffered, their level of severity and the treatment required for the injuries.
The reason why medical records are important to prove damages is because personal injury awards are meant to compensate an individual financially. This compensation is specifically tied to the actual injuries a person suffers, not the severity of the accident. When someone does not seek medical treatment, a court cannot fully calculate the damages and might not award the plaintiff anything as a result.
Even though costs may be high when seeking medical treatment, it is important for an injured party to remember that these costs are often reimbursed. This may include initial treatment, medication, tests, X-rays and ongoing therapy for lingering problems. In fact, some injuries, such as back pain and other less noticeable issues, can only be measured by the treatment a person receives.
After an auto accident, don’t hesitate to seek medical treatment to get a record of your injuries. For more information about seeking compensation from those responsible for an accident and their insurance companies, consult the dedicated Florida attorneys at Goldman, Babboni, Fernandez, Murphy & Walsh.