How long after an accident can you go to the hospital and file a injury claim with a insurance company?
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How long after an accident can you go to the hospital and file a injury claim with a insurance company?
It’s been a 10 days since the accident and my back is still hurting. Did I wait to late to go to the hospital?
Asked on January 12, 2018 under Personal Injury, Vermont
Answers:
S.L,. Member, California Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 6 years ago | Contributor
It is not too late to file your personal injury claim with the at-fault party's insurance carrier.
An injury may not manifest itself immediately after the accident occurred. It is also a common response to try to treat the injury initially with a heating pad, pain medication, etc. until there is little or no improvement warranting additional medical treatment at a hospital.
In order to have a personal injury case, the injury must be documented with medical treatment.
There isn't any set amount of time after the accident for seeking medical treatment, but the longer one waits, the weaker their case becomes because the insurance company will claim that the person must not have been seriously injured if an inordinate amount of time elapsed before receiving medical treatment. Also, if medical treatment is infrequent, the insurance company will raise the same argument.
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