Neck Pain After an Accident? Back Pain After a Crash? 6 Steps to Take After an Accident That Has You in Pain

If you have been in an accident, you will be very fortunate to walk away from the accident unscathed and without a scratch. The fact is that sustaining the force of a crash can cause injuries ranging from mild to severe. In some cases, you may be hurt, but the injuries may not be as readily apparent. You may be suffering from neck or back pain, but are not sure what to do as a result. Know that the steps that you take can make a difference in whether you receive compensation and how much you may get from your claim. With that in mind, here are six things that you can do if you are feeling pain after your accident.

Get Treated at the Scene

It is important to get immediate treatment if you even think that there is a chance that you are injured. Many people think that it is an inconvenience to receive medical help at the scene of an accident. They want to be on their way and do not want to take the extra time for an ambulance or a medic at the scene. Immediate treatment has the benefit of helping to better document your injury and establish that it was an accident that caused your injury. If you receive help at the scene, there is less of a chance that anyone can make an argument that your neck or back injury was caused by a different condition. This means that you should not refuse medical treatment, even if you do not know for sure that you are injured. When in doubt, at the scene of the accident, you are not fine. Don’t try to tough it out because it can impact your chances of receiving compensation for your injuries. Don’t forget that the sooner that you get help, the easier it will be to prove your injury.

Seek Help Whenever you Feel Pain

Sometimes, people do not begin to feel pain until some time after the accident. The longer after an accident that you start to feel pain, the more difficult it may be to connect your discomfort to the accident. Regardless, if you have been in an accident, it is imperative not to wait to see a physician long after you have felt pain. You want to get to the doctor while you are still in discomfort so that the injury can be properly diagnosed. While you do not necessarily need to go to the emergency room, you should not wait more than a week to see a physician. If you cannot get an appointment, then you should consider seeking more immediate help from an emergency room or a walk-in clinic.

Document Your Condition

There is only way to prove that you are entitled to compensation for your injuries. You will need to have documentation to bring into court or to present to the insurance company that shows the exact extent of your injury. Your documentation should be compiled with an eye towards proving your injury in court. Make sure that you receive and preserve a copy of your medical records. In order to get this documentation, make sure that you undergo a full medical exam as well as seek treatment from a specialist. Make sure that you give this information to your insurance company in a timely manner so they can have the time to properly value your claim. In general, you will need more than just your word for it to prove your claim.

Don’t Deny That You Are Hurt

It is critical not to undercut your own case through your own words. If you feel any pain, make sure to say so. Your contemporaneous actions will matter when it comes to proving your claim. What is most important is not to keep the proverbial stiff upper lip in order to look tough. That will not get you paid for your injuries. If you need help, make sure to ask for it. If you are injured, it is vital to bring the injury to someone’s attention and do not feel like you are losing face or admitting weakness.

Watch Your Physical Activity

You should not give the insurance company any reason to deny your claim. If you engage in vigorous physical activity after the accident when you are feeling pain, it can hurt you in two ways. First, it can make your injury worse. When that happens, you run the risk of losing out on your entire claim. Second, it can undercut any claim that you may have on the basis of your injury because it may look like you are not truly injured.

Contact a Lawyer

If you have been injured and are suffering from neck or back pain, you will have to prove to the insurance company of a jury that you are hurt. That is not always the easiest thing for someone to do on their own when the insurance company is trying to protect its bottom line. A Denver personal injury attorney knows how to deal with the insurance company and can help you demonstrate your injury to them. The attorney can also help advise you of the next steps that you should take in order to be in the strongest position to make a claim. Remember that it should not cost you anything out of your pocket in order to hire a Denver accident lawyer.