Not Going to the Hospital After Your Car Crash in Virginia Beach Can Prevent You from Filing Your Claim

People get into accidents every day. You probably see them on the side of the road on your way to work or school. So why would you be surprised when you’re the one who gets into a car crash in Virginia Beach?

Some people think that, unless they have obvious injuries, there’s no need to go to the hospital. This is not true. There are three things you need to do after any accident, regardless of how minor:

If you don’t do these things, you could jeopardize your claim for damages.

Why Do You Need to Go to the Hospital After a Car Crash in Virginia Beach?

Once the police have come to the accident scene, they’ll arrange for an ambulance to come transport you to the hospital. You don’t want to drive yourself to the emergency room. First, you have no idea if you’re medically safe to drive. Second, if you drive to the hospital, the defendant will claim some intervening force caused your injuries. They’ll also claim that if you were fine enough to drive to the hospital, then you weren’t really hurt.

Once you get to the emergency room, the doctor will do the necessary tests to make sure you’re okay. Some of these tests may include:

  • MRI
  • CT Scan
  • X-Rays
  • Physical Examination
  • Ultrasound
  • Neurological Examination

Even if your crash is only minor, you can still sustain some pretty serious injuries. These may include:

  • Spinal cord injuries
  • Broken neck
  • Back injuries
  • Neck and head injuries
  • Internal injuries
  • Facial lacerations
  • Traumatic brain injury

If you’re actually hurt in your car crash in Virginia Beach, you should be entitled to damages.

Without Medical Proof, You Won’t Be Able to Prove Damages

One of the reasons so many plaintiffs have a hard time proving damages is that they don’t get medical treatment after the crash. As mentioned above, your car accident lawyer in Virginia Beach is going to need proof that you were injured. If you can’t prove your physical injuries, then it will be almost impossible to prove most other types of damages.

Some of the damages that you may be entitled to include:

  • Medical Bills – If you are hospitalized or require medical care, the defendant will have to pay for this treatment. This includes future medical care as well. Your doctor can testify as to what future medical treatment you need. The defendant will be liable for these expenses.
  • Lost Wages – If you miss a significant amount of time from work, you can demand that you be reimbursed for lost wages. Usually, this requires that you miss at least a couple of weeks. Your Virginia Beach injury attorney will submit time sheets and payroll records to prove these damages.
  • Property Damage – If any of your property was damaged or destroyed during the accident, you can demand compensation. Although this is rare in a pedestrian accident. Unless the pedestrian caused you to drive into a telephone pole or another vehicle, you shouldn’t suffer a great amount of property damage.
  • Pain and Suffering – These damages are intended to compensate you for physical and mental anguish. These usually make up the lion’s share of your settlement.
  • Permanent Disability – If you can no longer work as a result of your accident, the defendant may be held liable for these damages. They are represented by the difference in what you’ll earn on disability compared to what you would’ve earned if you could return to working full-time.

Just remember. It’s your lawyer’s job to make you whole. It’s not their job to make you rich. They’ll do what they can to get you the compensation you deserve.

Contact an Experienced Car Accident Attorney in Virginia Beach Today

If you have been hurt in a car accident, you’ll need help. Contact an experienced car accident lawyer in Virginia Beach today. They’ll review your case and let you know what it may be worth. They’ll also answer any questions you may have.

Call Virginia Injury Law today and schedule your initial consultation. It’s absolutely free and you pay nothing until you settle your case. The defendant will have a team of lawyers working for them and you should too. There’s too much at stake to try to handle this yourself. Let them handle the legal side of things while you focus on getting better.