Following an accident, whether it be a car accident due to a speeding driver or a slip and fall in a shopping mall, seeking medical care is critical for the outcome of your case. In fact, it is one of the most important things you should do in the aftermath of an accident for several reasons. However, you may not know that failure to attend follow up medical appointments can result in negative outcomes for your case. The following blog explores what you should know about these matters and why working with a Broward County personal injury attorney is in your best interest during these difficult times.
Why Is Medical Care Crucial After an Accident?
When you are in an accident, you’ll likely be in pain or discomfort. As such, seeking medical care is critical to ensuring your health and well-being. Additionally, some symptoms you may experience can be indicative of more extensive issues that may go untreated if you brush them off. Keeping on top of your medical care ensures you can heal as effectively as possible.
Additionally, you’ll find that medical records are critical to obtaining the compensation you deserve for the injuries you’ve sustained. As such, attending appointments and following up with your provider is critical to collecting evidence to support your claims of pain and suffering should you pursue a claim against the other party. Without records to show the severity of your injuries or the pace at which you are progressing, it can be incredibly difficult to recover the funds you deserve.
How Can Skipping Medical Appointments Impact My Case?
Though seeking medical care is critical to obtaining evidence to help support your claim and ensuring you can receive treatment for the injuries you’ve sustained, failure to continue medical care can actually hurt your claim. Unfortunately, most people only see a doctor once after their injuries and do not attend follow-up appointments to ensure the injury is progressing properly. Though this may not seem like a big deal, failure to adhere to medical treatment and follow up with medical providers can be held against you during your case.
Florida is a comparative negligence state, meaning a victim who contributed in some way to their accident or injuries can have their compensation reduced by their percentage of fault in the accident to hold them liable. As such, the defense may claim you did not mitigate your injuries as you failed to seek follow-up medical care. This can severely reduce the compensation you deserve, as you could face liability for the severity of your injuries.
Fighting for the compensation you deserve while navigating an injury can be incredibly complex. That is why it’s critical to connect with an experienced attorney with the Finizio Law Group. Our firm can help guide you through these matters to ensure you take the correct steps to recover damages. Contact us today to learn how we can help.
