Should I get medical help after a car crash, even if I’m not injured? You should get medical help after a car crash, even if you’re not injured, to protect the legality of your claim and prevent additional damage due to the delayed onset of symptoms from your injuries.
A Chicago car accident lawyer can discuss the details of your case further.
Legal Reasons to Seek Medical Attention After a Crash in Illinois
If you’ve been involved in a traffic accident in Illinois, you should get medical help even if you’re not injured. Beyond safeguarding your health, prompt treatment carries significant legal repercussions.
Delaying medical care can jeopardize your chances of pursuing compensation. Medical records are a key component of a personal injury claim. They are heavily scrutinized, and a delay in starting medical treatment opens the door for a heavily disputed claim.
How Insurance Companies View Medical Delays
In Illinois, insurance companies are quick to scrutinize any delays in treatment. If you don’t get medical help soon after a car crash, the insurer may argue that:
- Your injuries weren’t caused by the accident
- Your injuries are not serious
- You failed to mitigate damages, which can reduce your payout
Under Illinois’s comparative negligence rule, your compensation can be reduced if you’re found partially at fault. Delaying care gives insurers ammunition to argue you contributed to your own injuries. Seeing a doctor quickly strengthens your case by linking your injuries directly to the crash and showing you acted responsibly.
Protecting Your Right to Compensation
Illinois law allows accident victims to file a personal injury lawsuit to recover damages for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering, but only with proper documentation.
Unfortunately, neglecting medical treatment is one of the costly mistakes to avoid in your personal injury case, according to our principal attorney, Charles N. Therman.
Medical records are vital for:
- Proving the severity and cause of your injuries
- Demonstrating the timeline and progression of symptoms
- Supporting your claim with credible evidence in court or settlement talks
Without timely medical evidence or a proper timeline of care, it becomes much harder for your attorney to negotiate a fair settlement or convince a jury of your claim’s legitimacy.
Understanding Illinois’ Statute of Limitations for Car Accident Claims
Illinois has a two-year statute of limitations in car accident cases. This means you have 24 months from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit. However, if you do not get medical help after a car crash, you risk weakening your case long before that deadline arrives.
Waiting too long to see a doctor may give the impression that your injuries weren’t serious or were not related to the accident at all. In some cases, insurance companies use that delay to outright deny claims long before the two-year limit expires.
Common Injuries that May Have Delayed Onset of Symptoms After a Car Accident
Not all injuries from a car crash are immediately visible or felt. Many victims walk away feeling fine, only to experience symptoms days later. However, auto accidents can affect you beyond the obvious injuries. Hidden, or the delayed onset of symptoms in injuries, may be even more dangerous. Failing to address them promptly can lead to long-term health issues or complications.
Soft Tissue Damage and Whiplash
Whiplash, one of the most common soft tissue injuries, often occurs in rear-end collisions. It may cause neck pain, limited mobility, headaches, or fatigue, sometimes appearing 24 to 72 hours after the crash. Without proper diagnosis and care, it can lead to chronic pain.
Traumatic Brain Injuries Without Visible Signs
A traumatic brain injury (TBI), including concussions, can happen even without hitting your head. Symptoms like dizziness, confusion, sensitivity to light, or trouble concentrating may be delayed, making immediate medical evaluation critical.
Internal Bleeding and Organ Damage
Internal injuries, such as bleeding or organ trauma, may not produce symptoms right away but can be life-threatening. Abdominal pain, deep bruising, or faintness may signal serious issues that require emergency care.
Recovering Damages After a Car Crash, Even if You’re Not Injured, is Possible
If you get medical help after a car crash and are not injured, you still have grounds for a car accident claim. Seeking damages does not rely solely on medical records relating to your physical injuries, although they are more helpful to strengthen the core of your claim. Illinois has alternative ways to seek recovery for emotional distress damages and property damages.
Emotional Distress Claims
Driving is a privilege and a responsibility. Your confidence in driving can be shaken with even the most minor of accidents. Emotional distress, like anxiety, PTSD, or the loss of enjoyment of life, can still have consequences after a car crash.
Even though these types of non-economic damages are harder to prove, they are not to be overlooked. It does, however, require you to see a psychologist or counseling service in order to start gathering a medical history of this distress. Like physical injury, it is just as important to seek medical attention for your emotional and mental state as soon as possible.
Your Chicago car accident attorney may request a psychological diagnosis, medical records, documentation of emotional and mental trauma, and, if available, witness testimony detailing your change in behavior and lifestyle. If you are unsure where to start finding medical help, let our offices know, and we can help locate one for you.
Recovering Property Damages
Your car is your vessel to freedom, work, and connection to love and family. Without your vehicle, you may be dependent on unreliable public transit or subject to costly ride shares or taxis. This additional cost should not be your burden.
With proper representation, your attorney can help obtain damage recovery for vehicle repair, replacement, loss of use of the vehicle, towing, rental costs, and other related out-of-pocket expenses.
Therman Law Offers Legal Representation and Personal Support After Your Car Crash
It is worth getting medical help after a car crash, even if you are not injured, especially if you want to be fully compensated. We have recovered over $100 million for our clients.
At Therman Law, our lawyers are friendly, approachable, and responsive. We will manage your case and work diligently for the best possible outcome.
