In Maryland, it might feel tempting to skip going to the emergency room after a minor collision. However, even if your car has minimal damage and you feel fine, the symptoms of some injuries are not always immediately apparent. It may be a good idea to pursue medical attention anyway.
Why do some injury symptoms take time to appear?
After an accident, your body might respond by flooding your system with adrenaline. This can potentially mask pain and other signs of injury. The symptoms of certain conditions, such as whiplash, soft tissue injuries and concussions, could take hours or even days to become apparent.
By the time you feel certain symptoms, such as stiffness, headaches or back pain, it could become too difficult to connect them to the accident. Getting evaluated by a healthcare professional soon after the accident creates a medical record that documents your injuries. This may link them directly to the collision.
What is the significance of medical documentation?
If you decide later that you need compensation for your injuries, having medical documentation on hand could determine your ability to recover. In Maryland, insurance companies often question injuries that were not documented immediately after an accident.
They might argue that your symptoms are the result of another incident, or that the accident was not serious enough to cause injury. A timely medical evaluation could provide objective evidence of your condition by creating a timeline that supports your account of what happened.
Keep in mind that while insurers may scrutinize liability claims, most Maryland policies include Personal Injury Protection (PIP). This generally covers medical bills regardless of who is at fault. However, you must typically file a PIP claim within one year of the accident.
In Maryland, your ability to recover compensation may also depend on how at fault you are for the collision. The state follows the strict contributory negligence rule. This means you may lose the ability to recover if you are even 1% responsible for the accident.
Prompt action may protect you after a crash
Even if you feel completely fine, consider scheduling a precautionary examination as soon as possible. Getting early treatment, taking note of your condition and gathering evidence that links your injury to the accident may help you pursue financial compensation.