If you’ve been injured in an accident due to someone else’s negligence, you have the right to seek compensation for the losses you’ve sustained. To maximize the compensation you’re entitled to, it’s crucial to thoroughly document your damages. Delaying or refusing medical attention immediately after an accident can jeopardize your ability to recover the compensation you need to get your life back on track. Please continue reading to understand how failing to seek timely medical care can negatively affect your claim and how a determined Prince George’s County Personal Injury Attorney can help you.
Why Do People Delay Medical Treatment After an Accident?
Following an accident in Maryland, many victims postpone seeking medical treatment. The rationale behind this varies significantly and may seem reasonable in the immediate aftermath. Common reasons for delaying or refusing medical attention include:
- The initial assessment is that symptoms are insignificant or nonexistent right after the accident.
- Adrenaline obscures pain, creating a misleading feeling of being fine.
- A hectic schedule or inconvenience
- Concerns about potential medical expenses
What Are the Risks of Delaying Medical Treatment?
After an accident, it’s crucial to understand that some injuries are not immediately apparent or may have delayed onset symptoms. Therefore, it’s essential to consult a physician, regardless of how minor they may initially appear. Delaying medical care can be detrimental to your health, potentially leading to a longer recovery or chronic health issues. While your well-being is the top concern, you also need to consider how refusing care will impact your claim.
Refusing to see a doctor after an accident gives the insurance company grounds to reject your claim. They may assert that you aren’t genuinely hurt or are exaggerating your injuries since you failed to seek medical attention. Even if you declined help at the scene, you can still file a claim, but the insurer will likely dispute the link between your eventual treatment and the accident.
Maryland operates under a strict contributory negligence rule. If you contributed in any way (even just 1%) to the accident, you will face the absolute bar of recovery. This doctrine requires accident victims to mitigate further harm by taking reasonable measures, such as getting immediate medical help for a speedy recovery. If you fail to mitigate additional harm by delaying medical care, you will be assigned a percentage of fault for your lack of action. To safeguard your legal rights, you must seek medical attention even if you believe you’ve walked away unscathed.
At McCarthy, Winkelman, & Mester, L.L.P., we are prepared to guide you through every step of the complex legal process ahead and fight for the compensation you deserve. Connect with our firm today to schedule a consultation.
