Following a New York car accident, your initial reaction is probably to get medical care right away, and it should be. Emergency rooms are designed to treat trauma, stabilize patients, and deal with life-threatening injuries. But, as any veteran auto accident attorney New York will tell you, simply going to the ER is not enough to guarantee a successful injury claim. It takes more than emergency care to win your case; it takes strategy, documentation, and occasionally the help of an experienced legal professional.
ER Visits Are Just the Beginning
Emergency rooms give top priority to emergency care. They treat the obvious injuries, like fractures, head injuries, or internal injuries. However, most car accident injuries, like soft tissue injury, whiplash, or back injury, can take hours or even days to manifest completely. If you end up at the ER with little or no documentation, or without follow-up treatment, insurance companies can claim that your injuries were not so serious or were not crash-related.
A car accident lawyer in Manhattan will commonly have clients who were mistaken in believing that their ER visit was adequate documentation of injury. The truth is, what comes after that first visit is just as important. Not having a follow-up visit to a primary care doctor or specialist, not attending physical therapy sessions, or missing out on diagnostic scans like MRIs can greatly undermine your case.
Insurance Companies Are Not on Your Side
Insurance adjusters are told to be low in payments. They look for gaps in treatment, missed appointments, or lack of evidence to deny the validity of your claim. If all they have is an ER report that you were discharged with no further treatment, then it’s easier for them to say that your injuries were not serious.
This is where a Brooklyn automobile accident attorney can step in. They are familiar with insurance company tactics and will help you gather the medical records, bills, expert opinion, and other documents needed to establish the extent of your injuries.
To prevail on a claim of injury, you must prove three things: the other party was negligent, you were hurt, and those injuries caused specific damages (like lost wages or medical bills). Going to the ER can help you prove that you were hurt, but ongoing, consistent treatment shows that your injuries were serious and required extended treatment.
A skilled New York auto accident attorney will tell you to document everything. This involves tracking all your physician visits, following the doctor’s instructions, attending all appointments, and keeping receipts related to treatment. The more detailed your documentation, the harder it is for an insurance company or opposing attorney to dispute your claim.
Legal Representation Is Key
Another frequent mistake victims of accidents make is taking too long to hire legal representation. Having a Manhattan car accident attorney from the outset ensures you’re making the most suitable choices right away. They can inform you about handling insurers, collecting evidence, and avoiding common pitfalls that harm your case.
In Brooklyn and across the five boroughs, car accidents are, unfortunately, a common occurrence. The law can be complex, with no-fault statutes, time limits, and multiple parties. A car accident attorney Brooklyn is familiar with local courts and how to recover maximum compensation for pain and suffering, lost income, and other damages.
Conclusion
A trip to the ER is always a required starting point after an auto accident. Still, it won’t be your final destination when seeking compensation unless you have adequate medical care continuing and the counsel of an effective auto accident lawyer in New York.
Otherwise, you can receive a denied claim or undercompensation for your injury. Don’t jeopardize your recovery. Hire a professional Manhattan or Brooklyn car accident attorney who can help you build a strong case and receive the compensation you deserve.
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