The aftermath of a car accident can be very confusing. You are frightened and adrenaline pumps through you. You are trying to process what has just happened. Should I take an ambulance after a car accident? Suddenly, someone asks you if you need an ambulance. Should you say yes? If you do, you will be billed for transportation to the hospital and the subsequent treatment you will receive. If you don't, you risk walking away with severe head injuries and soft tissue injuries that will start showing symptoms days later.
Also, in the experience of personal injury attorneys at Glenn Law Firm, refusal to accept medical treatment at the scene of the crash may weaken your case when you file a personal injury claim. Our best advice is to accept ambulance rides every time after a motor vehicle accident and hire an experienced personal injury lawyer to negotiate your settlement, which will include the cost of ambulance transportation and EMT services..
Car Accident Injuries Are Not Always Apparent at First
You may not see bruises or blood, but you may have suffered severe injuries after a car crash. Whiplash is one of the most common types of traumatic brain injuries that do not show symptoms immediately. Whiplash occurs when your head violently jerks forwards and backward while you are restrained by the seatbelt. Your brain actually moves inside your head and hits the inner walls of the skull.
Symptoms of injuries of this kind appear days later and may involve:
- Dizziness
- constant headaches
- blurred vision
- difficulties in processing information.
You may also have severe injuries to the internal organs which you cannot perceive on the spot due to the high levels of adrenaline. Therefore, even if you believe that you have minor injuries, you should seek emergency care at the accident scene.
Ambulance Personnel Can Take You to the Best Hospital
Let us imagine the scenario when you walk away from the accident and feel neck pain or tightness in the chest in a few days. Which hospital should you go to? Or should you go to your primary care physician? In such circumstances, time is very important, both from a medical and a legal point of view.
If you call an ambulance, paramedics will be able to evaluate your condition on the spot and take you to a hospital that has adequate equipment and specialists to treat your injuries. Later on, when you hire an accident lawyer to negotiate your settlement with the responsible party's insurance company, the attorney will be able to prove:
- That your injuries were a direct cause of the accident
- the complete extent of your injuries
- the time you needed under medical care to recover.
How Refusal to Take an Ambulance May Affect Your Personal Injury Lawsuit
If you refuse to go to hospital for evaluation by medical professionals, the other driver's insurer may even refuse to offer any personal injury settlements. In this case, you would have to file an accident claim lawsuit. In this case, the insurance adjuster will have strong arguments against your case:
1. You Were Not Severely Injured
The insurance agent will argue that you didn't suffer any injuries, since you refused to call an ambulance. While personal injury lawyers can bring counterarguments, the jury will wonder whether your claims are true.
2. Your Injuries Occurred at a Later Date
If you go to hospital days later with symptoms of injuries caused by the car crash, the insurance company will sow the seed of doubt in the jurors' minds: who can tell whether you suffered another, unrelated accident in the meantime?
3. You Are Only Trying to Make Money
With the credibility of the extent of your injuries dented by the above arguments, the insurance company representatives will try to paint you as the bad guy, trying to take advantage of the legal system. You may count on the fact that auto insurance companies will use every tactic against you, adding insult to the injury.
Should I Take an Ambulance after a Car Accident?
If you want to maximize your chances of getting a fair settlement for your expenses, pain and suffering, you should start by calling 9-1-1 or asking someone else to do it for you. Follow the paramedics' advice and go to the hospital if they recommend it.
In the meantime, collect as much information as you can at the crash scene: name and insurance details of the at-fault party, eyewitnesses' contact details and photos or videos of the wrecked vehicles. These details will be very useful to your personal injury lawyer to assess property damage as part of the economic losses included in your accident claim.
As soon as possible after the accident, make sure that you hire an attorney to represent you. Do not accept to discuss with an insurance adjuster on your own. You will be pressured to sign a quick settlement, getting far less than the compensation an attorney can negotiate on your behalf.
Types of Damages a Personal Injury Lawyer Can Recover for You
A skilled attorney will negotiate with the fault driver's insurance company to recover the following types of damages:
Economic damages, which include, as applicable:
- ambulance transportation cost
- medical bills you accumulate in hospital
- lost wages
- future medical care costs
- loss of capacity to work.
Non-economic damages, covering:
- pain and suffering
- mental anguish
- depression and anxiety
- loss of enjoyment of life.
Therefore, you will ultimately recover the cost of the ambulance ride from the driver responsible for the crash.
Hire an Experienced Personal Injury Attorney!
David Glenn is the driving force behind Glenn Law Firm. He has more than 38 years of experience in fighting on behalf of personal injury victims hurt in motor vehicle accidents and premises liability situations.
Our legal team is the rock you can lean on and take cover from the intimidation tactics insurance companies use to determine you to surrender your legal rights for an insufficient amount of money to cover your damages. We will fight on your behalf and win your case, so call us: 817-424-5999!