Things Accident Victims Should Consider Before Refusing Medical Care
- By Rhiyana Venise PADUA
- •
- 06 Nov, 2017
- •

In the United States, about 3 million people are injured in car accidents each year. Many of these auto accident victims are so shaken up after the incident that they are simply thankful to be alive. Even though they may feel some discomfort after the event, they may forgo offers for medical treatment, believing that their pain will quickly subside.
Here are a few things accident victims should consider before refusing medical care.
Healing Takes Time
The assumption that a painful injury from an auto accident will heal quickly is actually a misconception. Soft tissue injuries can take up to a year to fully heal. During the healing process, the tissues may undergo the following stages:
Inflammation: The acute inflammatory stage generally lasts about 72 hours and occurs immediately after the injury takes place.
Regeneration: The regenerative phase occurs after the inflammation subsides and may last up to 8 weeks after the initial injury.
Remodeling: The remodeling phase is the final stage of the soft-tissue healing process and can last up to 12 months after the injury's onset.
To ensure that the healing process progresses as it should, the accident victim should remain under the care of a physician throughout the recovery. The medical provider can review the progress of the victim and make changes to the treatment plan as needed.
Symptoms May Not Be Immediately Present
Some victims experience little discomfort immediately after an accident. Nevertheless, a delay in painful symptoms does not mean that an injury is insignificant.
Here are several types of accident injuries that often have delayed symptoms:
- Back pain from a pulled muscle, strain or herniated disc
- Shoulder or neck pain from whiplash or a spinal injury
- Headaches from stress, whiplash, a brain injury or a concussion
- Abdominal discomfort from soft-tissue injuries
- Psychological pain and suffering from post-traumatic stress
As soon as an accident victim suspects that he or she has been injured, it is best to seek medical care. The determination of the type and extent of the injury should be left to a medical professional. A prompt diagnosis can help ensure that the victim gets the help that is needed for a full recovery.
Delaying Treatment Could Jeopardize Compensation for Damages
The insurance company of the person at fault in the accident might look for ways to avoid compensating the victim for damages. As a result, a delay in treatment is often viewed with suspicion. The insurance company representatives may assume the following:
- The injury is not as severe as the victim claims.
- The victim sustained an injury through a separate event that was not related to the accident. The victim is only seeking treatment to increase the amount of potential compensation.
By receiving medical care immediately after an accident, the victim helps provide proof of his or her injuries. A Medical personnel will take detailed notes concerning the diagnosis and treatment of an accident victim's injuries, and it is harder to dispute the treatment findings of a medical professional who treated an accident victim immediately following the incident.
Visiting the Emergency Room Just Once May Not Be Enough
Even if an accident victim is seen in an emergency room, the victim may need to seek additional medical care, such as physical therapy. If the accident victim does need to go to the emergency room, the staff is trained to treat medical emergencies and will help the victim. The seriousness of a head or spinal cord injury may not be immediately apparent without proper testing.
Although a victim may not feel as though he or she is seriously hurt, it is best to refrain from making statements or signing documents denying physical injury. The statements can be used to justify a refusal to compensate for damages.
Undergoing a thorough physical evaluation after an accident is often wise, regardless of the symptoms that may or may not be present.
If you have been involved in an accident, contact the Law Offices of Kurt A. Franke to schedule a consultation.