[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/www.truittlawoffices.com\/blog\/should-i-go-to-the-doctor\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/www.truittlawoffices.com\/blog\/should-i-go-to-the-doctor\/","headline":"Should I Go to the Doctor After My Indiana Car Accident?","name":"Should I Go to the Doctor After My Indiana Car Accident?","description":"Many injuries caused by car accidents are immediately obvious, such as broken bones and cuts. However, others are not. The body responds to stress by releasing\u00a0adrenaline, which blocks pain. That\u2019s why it\u2019s always best to seek medical help after an accident, even if you feel fine. The Indiana car accident...","datePublished":"2022-08-30","dateModified":"2025-11-06","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.truittlawoffices.com\/blog\/author\/philtruitt\/#Person","name":"Phil Truitt","url":"https:\/\/www.truittlawoffices.com\/blog\/author\/philtruitt\/","identifier":14,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/f112f948511b1b4986cc42659aba88a8f0fcc0e3a93ed222ce1643fca1d6a2d9?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/f112f948511b1b4986cc42659aba88a8f0fcc0e3a93ed222ce1643fca1d6a2d9?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Truitt Law Offices","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.truittlawoffices.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Truitt-Law-Offices-Logo.png","url":"https:\/\/www.truittlawoffices.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Truitt-Law-Offices-Logo.png","width":427,"height":59}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.truittlawoffices.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/doctor-checking.jpg","url":"https:\/\/www.truittlawoffices.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/doctor-checking.jpg","height":667,"width":1000},"url":"https:\/\/www.truittlawoffices.com\/blog\/should-i-go-to-the-doctor\/","about":["Car Accidents"],"wordCount":1037,"articleBody":"Many injuries caused by car accidents are immediately obvious, such as broken bones and cuts. However, others are not. The body responds to stress by releasing\u00a0adrenaline, which blocks pain. That\u2019s why it\u2019s always best to seek medical help after an accident, even if you feel fine.The Indiana car accident attorneys at Truitt Law Offices are here to explain why some accident victims avoid seeking medical care and what you can do to protect your health and legal rights after a crash. To learn more, contact our firm at (260) 344 7055 for a free initial consultation.Table of Contents1 When Should You See a Doctor After a Car Accident?2 Can a Doctor\u2019s Report Be Used as Evidence in My Accident Claim?3 What Happens If I Do Not See My Doctor After a Car Accident?4 How Long After an Indiana Car Accident Can You File a Lawsuit?5 Contact an Indiana Car Accident Lawyer TodayWhen Should You See a Doctor After a Car Accident?You should see a doctor as soon as possible after a car accident \u2013 even if you feel fine immediately after the accident. Not only can the trauma of a car accident hide the severity of any resulting injuries, but some may take days or weeks to manifest themselves. That means you could be suffering from a serious, even life-threatening injury that you have no way of noticing until you\u2019ve consulted with a doctor and had an examination and other tests.However, some people find going to the doctor uncomfortable, impractical, or otherwise difficult. Studies suggest many Americans avoid going to the doctor even when they believe they need care. The reasons vary from person to person. But\u00a0one study\u00a0published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine found that some common factors include the following:Critical opinions about seeking care\u00a0\u2013 More than a third of participants reported having negative feelings about going to the doctor based on unfavorable views of physicians, medical facilities, or the healthcare industry.No or low perceived need for medical care\u00a0\u2013 More than 12 percent of participants reported that they didn\u2019t think they needed medical care. Some believed their illnesses or injuries would improve.Traditional barriers to seeking care\u00a0\u2013 More than half of the participants didn\u2019t seek care due to \u201ctraditional barriers.\u201d These barriers include the high cost of medical care at about 24 percent, time constraints at 16 percent, and lack of health insurance at 8 percent.Regardless, you should plan to visit a doctor no more than 72 hours after any car accident. Putting it off can be a serious mistake. Not only do you risk missing life-saving care, but you could also jeopardize your legal case. This is because records and bills from health care facilities are among the most critical pieces of evidence establishing losses and tying them to the accident. Many insurance policies even require that you see a doctor within this window for your medical care to be fully covered.Can a Doctor\u2019s Report Be Used as Evidence in My Accident Claim?Doctors\u2019 reports and other medical records can be essential evidence in a car accident claim. This can include evidence such as the following:Paramedic or ambulance reportsTriage notes and admittance chartsInitial treatment records from emergency rooms or urgent care clinicsMedical history records, including physicians\u2019 and nurses\u2019 notesPrescription records, including medication names and dosagesMedical narratives, including diagnostics and prognosticsImaging studies and other diagnostic test resultsConsultations, referrals, and correspondence from physiciansRecords and line-item bills from initial and follow-up appointmentsThis medical evidence can serve several purposes in your Indiana car accident case. Your medical records establish a formal, date-specific connection between the crash and your injuries. These records also illustrate the extent and impact of your injuries. And the test results and doctor\u2019s notes reveal the potential long-term effects you are likely to suffer from your injuries. Together, these elements paint a complete picture of the personal and financial losses you have incurred due to the crash.What Happens If I Do Not See My Doctor After a Car Accident?If you don\u2019t seek medical care after a car accident in Indiana, it could harm you in more ways than one. Most importantly, you may suffer from additional or aggravated injuries if you don\u2019t get the necessary care.But not seeing a doctor can also make it significantly more difficult to recover compensation. The insurance company might blame you for your injuries and suggest that they weren\u2019t related to the car accident or that you made them worse by not addressing them in time. Without medical records to back you up, you\u2019ll have difficulty proving otherwise.Even if you had a legitimate reason to avoid or delay seeking treatment, the insurance company is more likely to minimize or deny your claim if you didn\u2019t get care quickly. You should also remember to continue attending all follow-up appointments as scheduled. Don\u2019t allow the insurance company to argue that your injuries aren\u2019t covered.How Long After an Indiana Car Accident Can You File a Lawsuit?You have just two years from the date of the car accident in Indiana to file a personal injury lawsuit in civil court. If you try to file your suit after the deadline has passed, the court will most likely dismiss your case. At that point, you will lose the chance to file a suit through the civil courts.Although this deadline does not apply to car insurance claims, negotiating a fair settlement will be more difficult if the insurance company knows you can\u2019t hold them responsible in court. That\u2019s why speaking to a knowledgeable car accident attorney after a crash is so important.Contact an Indiana Car Accident Lawyer TodayIf you were involved in a car accident in Indiana, you might have been injured even if you didn\u2019t feel hurt immediately. Protect your health and legal rights by seeking prompt medical care and speaking to a trusted car accident lawyer. Contact the legal team at Truitt Law Offices today to learn more about your legal options in a free case review.Visit Our Indiana Car Accident Injury Law Offices{    \"@context\": \"http:\/\/schema.org\",    \"@type\": \"FAQPage\",    \"mainEntity\": [        {            \"@type\": \"Question\",            \"name\": \"When Should You See a Doctor After a Car Accident?\",            \"acceptedAnswer\": {                \"@type\": \"Answer\",                \"text\": \"You should see a doctor as soon as possible after a car accident \u2013 even if you feel fine immediately after the accident. 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