In most cases, unless the injury is so sever that an injured person is incapacitated and must be take away by ambulance, people are very reluctant to go to the emergency room. The biggest fear is the medical bills from the ER. I want to clarify this issue for people because I see that it becomes a problem later in my clients’ personal injury cases.
If you have been seriously injured as a result of someone else’s negligence, for example a car accident or a slip and fall at a store, you should not hesitate about going to the ER immediately. Going to the emergency room not only allows a medical professional to assess your condition but it also documents the incident. Documentation is super important in a personal injury case because if a doctor did not document it, it did not happen. Or at least that is how the defense looks at it. Also the defense likes to argue to the jury that the injury must not have been as serious as the plaintiff describe because he or she did not seek medical attention immediately.
Medical bills should not be your primary concern. First, you will not be required to pay the hospital on the day of your treatment. Always request an invoice to come by mail. Second, any medical bill that stems from a personal injury caused by another party (not you) is the responsibility of the at-fault party or their insurance company. Therefore, if you hire a personal injury attorney, your attorney will demand that the at-fault party pay for your medical bills. Finally, most medical bills are grossly inflated and can be negotiated down to a fraction of the original price.
Therefore, if you are seriously injured at a restaurant, hotel, store, or in a car accident you should seek medical attention as soon as possible. Medical bills will be resolved during your personal injury case by your attorney. And remember that not going to see a doctor immediately after the injury occurs may critically impact the worth of your personal injury case.