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Insurance companies are always looking for ways to deny or downgrade your Cincinnati car accident claim. Your refusal to get medical care after an accident can adversely impact your injury claim in several ways.
According to the data collected by the State Patrol Ohio, the total number of accidents each year is about 67,000. Some of them result in serious injuries and some of them are fatal. The number of accidents recorded each year are:
- 2017: 65,140
- 2016: 66,395
- 2015: 69,350
- 2014: 68,904
- 2013: 65,468
Problems of Refusing Medical Treatment in a Cincinnati Car Accident Claim:
Refusing medical treatment after a car crash puts your health at risk and makes it more difficult to claim compensation. The following are some of the possible consequences.
Hidden Risks of Injury:
If you are involved in an accident, there is a chance that you might face a severe injury that does not show any symptoms at first. Some injuries are not discovered until they are diagnosed. If you fail to diagnose such injuries timely, it can lead to a delay or no treatment.
Long Recovery:
You can have a swift recovery if you receive immediate medical attention after an accident. However, your recovery can be delayed if you avoid proper medical treatment. Additionally, it will take time to reach your Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI). It is always advised by lawyers to wait until MMI before filing a claim against the culprit.
High Injuries and Associated Complications:
Your delay in getting treatment can cause complexities in your diagnosis and your injury will take longer to recover. Some of these complications include:
- If your injury gets worse, you will have to bear huge medical bills along with professional medical attention
- During your treatment, you will have to be away from work for a longer period thereby resulting in lost earnings
- As you will be unable to execute any of the daily chores, it is likely that you will require hired help to assist you
It is likely that the legal counsel representing the defendant put up a show of spirited defense. They may attempt to undervalue your claim using expert testimony. You might end up spending more money on legal fees as compared to other aspects of a Cincinnati car accident claim.
Comparative Negligence Complaints:
After an accident, the victims are required to take a few steps to control their damages. These steps include:
- Moving your vehicle to a safe location to prevent further damages to the surrounding property and people
- See a doctor and follow their instructions
- Return to work after your swift recovery
A court may perceive that your reason to refute medical care is that you were unable to curb the damages you have sustained. Comparative negligence laws can be applied which means that the compensation you receive will be according to the proportion of your fault. Moreover, if the court determines that your fault in the accident was more than 51%, it is likely that you will not be entitled to any compensation.
Difficulty in Assessing and Proving the Damages:
After being injured in an accident, the cost of your medical assistance can help you determine the value of your case. You can only know how much you have spent and how much you are going to spend by accepting medical assistance. You can track the cost of the following:
- Outpatient expenses
- Diagnostic expenses
- Drugs
- Physiotherapy
- Consultations
- Future medical expenses
In addition to calculating the damage, medical care also helps demonstrate the damage. To prove your harm, you can use the following.
- Medical invoices
- Prescriptions for drugs
- Receipts for reimbursable expenses
Common Reasons Why an Injury Victim May Refuse Care:
Most of the time, the victim does not realize the severity of injuries after an accident. This is the reason why most victims do not consider getting medically treated.
There is a chance that certain moral or religious beliefs come in the way of a complete medical treatment. An example of this is blood transfusions. A certain school of thought might discourage such transfusion of blood or any by-products.
If the patient refuses to get medically treated because of religious factors, this can resist any argument that the insurance company can raise for denying your claim as to why the person has refused to get medical help. An experienced lawyer will be able to help you through the process if you cannot get treated because of religious reasons and your beliefs.
Call an Expert Lawyer Today:
Call us today and seek the help of our experienced lawyer who can guide you through the whole process of a Cincinnati car accident claim. Our lawyers can help you get the compensation that you deserve. Contact us for a free consultation and you do not have to pay us a dime until we win the case for you.
