Unless you get into a severe collision that draws emergency responders to the scene, you may not know if or when you should go to the doctor following a car accident. Maybe your provider has limited availability or you do not have health insurance right now. What do you do?
The simple answer is to see a medical professional as soon as possible no matter the circumstances. It will only help your case.
Why should you go right away?
You may feel fine, especially if the accident was just a fender bender leading only to property damage. However, adrenaline can mask the feeling of pain, and the stress and anxiety of the situation can distract you from checking on yourself or noticing an injury. Furthermore, symptoms can sometimes take time to appear. By the time they do and you see a doctor, it will be harder to prove that the health issues are from the accident.
What if you lack insurance?
Lacking insurance does not disqualify you from receiving compensation for the accident. You will be able to get reimbursement for the costs of receiving medical attention, so it is in your best interest to go anyway as it will help your case.
What if you were at fault?
Maybe you do not think that you will get any monetary award from the other party because you were at fault for the accident. This is only true if you were more than 50 percent accountable, says Texas law. Determining this number is not so cut and dry, though. Many factors probably played a role in the incident, some of which may not have been your fault.
Even if you are ineligible to receive damages from the other driver due to being at fault, you may still be able to receive compensation from your own insurance company. However, to do so, you will need to prove injury, so go ahead and see a doctor.
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