When Documenting Your Injuries After a Car Accident, the First 24 Hours Are the Most Important

Not all car accidents result in devastating injuries or fatalities. That being said, accidents that are not catastrophic can still ultimately lead to damages. In fact, many people have walked away from what appear to be minor car accidents thinking that they are not injured, only to begin experiencing chronic pain a short time later. If you are involved in a personal injury lawsuit related to a car accident, it is important to present evidence that injuries sustained in the accident are the source of your pain. In many cases, the only way you can prove this definitively is to gather adequate evidence as soon as the accident occurs.

Getting Documentation During Your Emergency Room Visit

After a car accident, you are probably stressed and have a hundred things on your mind. Likewise, emergency room physicians are required to think about lots of things at once. Still, it is important to go to the emergency room immediately after a car accident, even if you do not feel like you have any injuries, and it is important to ask the doctor a few important questions. If you go to the emergency room, you can at least prove that your pain started after the accident and not before. The emergency room staff can also photograph any injuries you might have sustained in the accident. If the doctor recommends that you take any time off from work, ask for this recommendation in writing, so that you can prove lost wages relating to the accident, if necessary.

Following Up with Your Primary Care Doctor

Schedule an emergency visit with your primary doctor as soon as the doctor’s office opens after the accident and after you get out of the emergency room. Your doctor, who knows your medical history, can provide an even more detailed report. Your doctor’s report about the visit should include a detailed description of what your doctor thinks caused the injuries, such as from what angle and at what speed the other car collided with your car. The report should also contain detailed recommendations for follow-up treatment, including any treatment you might require from specialists. The primary care doctor should also state in the report that he or she has reviewed the emergency room physician’s report. The more documentation you have from medical experts, the stronger your case will be in court.

Our Legal Team Offers Legal Representation in Personal Injury Cases

After consulting your doctor, the next person you should consult is a personal injury lawyer. Contact Bundza & Rodriguez in Daytona Beach, Florida about personal injury cases related to car accidents.