What If I Didn’t Go to the Hospital Immediately After an Auto Accident?

Getting compensation for the injuries caused by a car accident depends a lot on the actions you take right after the accident has happened.

You should have your legal claim in mind even at the scene of the accident and collect as much evidence as you can to back up your personal injury claim.

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st. louis woman talking to doctor after being in a car accident

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ellen P.
3 months ago
Chris Hoffman is an excellent attorney. He is the best above the rest. What makes him different? He communicates promptly - I don't have to leave message after message for him to reach out to me. When I telephone his office, if he doesn't answer the telephone, his assistant does. Chris Hoffman is very attentive and focused. He means business, and he hit the ground running on the cases. I'm so blessed to have him for my attorney.
Charles B.
1 year ago
Best lawyer for car accidents and injury claims. Love this lawyer!
Zach B.
1 year ago
Much better than Morgan & Morgan. It is not the firm. It is the lawyer.
Ashley S.
1 year ago
"Of all the lawyers I have met, this one is a true professional. This attorney goes against the biggest law firms and wins!"
james W.
1 year ago
I'd say this lawyer is in the top three of the best you'll ever see. Add this attorney to the interview list if you ever get in an automobile accident. This Law Firm is on another level.
Dean R.
1 year ago
People say this is the best car accident lawyer in St.Louis. Yep! Seeing this attorney in action is incredible.
Domaneshia A S.
1 year ago
Hire them!!!
Benjamin K.
1 year ago
The Hoffman law firm is truly professional. After hiring them I was truly relieved and knew I was in good hands. Highly recommend!
dylan F.
1 year ago
Definitely recommend Mr. Hoffmann if you get into a car accident, this lawyer is top shelf.
lori W.
1 year ago
They are the best law firm I have encountered in my lifetime. Great for any accident!
Rachel M.
1 year ago
Great experience with this law firm. Excellent help with the car accident process. Definitely use them again.
Kyle D.
2 years ago
The lawyers on tv just dont compare for auto accident injury cases. Mr.Hoffmann is as good as they get.
Leigha M.
2 years ago
If you have ever watched any lawyers, you will agree this is one of the best automobile accident litigators in Saint Louis County.
Ashley S.
2 years ago
I would describe this lawyer as highly educated, sharp, and top of his game. Explains the car accident process and treatment options well. The lawyer said if they don’t pay you, we will have the jury take it from the insurance company. Great lawyer. Dynamic person.
George K.
2 years ago
Very good car accident lawyer. Gets the job done.
Jessica J.
2 years ago
Interviewed all the TV car accident lawyers and decided to call this law firm that had great reviews. So happy I did. What a difference!
Jacob P.
2 years ago
Love my car accident lawyer. This law firm is a step above.
Ashley S.
2 years ago
Serious family member have a car accident injury? Look no further. This litigator is for real. Always two steps ahead of the other lawyer.
RIcky P.
2 years ago
This lawyer handles really big accident cases in St Louis. He is a lawyer, accountant and has his masters in tax so he gets the injury cases for individuals that can never go back to work or individuals own a business and cannot run it due to injury. He specializes in valuations of massive loss. Thank goodness a firm like this exists.
Kasandra H.
2 years ago
You are a great lawyer! Thank you.
Brandon W.
2 years ago
Asked a trauma surgeon who operates on car accident victims who are the best injury lawyers that have taken his deposition. He said “by far” it was Mr Hoffmann. Interviewed several attorneys and this was a correct assessment. In a league of his own!
Morgan B.
2 years ago
Few lawyers in St. Louis can handle the biggest injury cases! This is one of them!
Ashley A.
2 years ago
Cannot say enough about this lawyer. Call if in an accident. This attorney handles the biggest car accidents in St Louis.
Taylor T.
2 years ago
So glad I called attorney Hoffmann. This time I got it right! So glad I hired the Hoffmann Law Firm - professional, reliable and available.
Malashia M.
2 years ago
Great lawyer. Cares about his clients, knows his stuff and goes the extra mile. I recommend this lawyer for car wreck injury claim. Every other lawyer on TV would not even help with my property claim. This attorney did.

However, many victims are not sufficiently prepared for the process of a personal injury claim, and make the mistake of not going to the doctor right away for a check-up. Naturally, severe injuries will most probably be noticed instantly, but there are exceptions to them and even life-threatening injuries could be passed as “just a scratch” or “just a bruise”. 

Whether you thought you were feeling fine, or maybe you were very busy with other tasks, postponing your medical visit by only a few days can, indeed, affect your personal injury claim. 

Insurance companies usually require a car accident victim to seek medical attention in the first 72 hours from the accident. Exceeding the timeline mentioned in the insurance policy can lead to a denial of your claim. 

You must also comply with the state’s statute of limitations for car accidents, which is a period of time calculated from the moment you know that you are injured. As you can see, the law recognizes the legitimacy of delayed injuries. In Missouri, you have a time window of five years to file a personal injury claim, but it doesn’t mean that it will be easy. 

Delayed Injuries

One of the most common reasons why people postpone their medical visit is because they seem to be in perfectly fine condition following their car accident. However, many injuries show delayed symptoms. Some of them can be noticed days, weeks, or even months after. 

While the insurance company may try to deny your claim, implying that it’s unfounded since you didn’t need a doctor for it, delayed injuries are a real thing, and they are taken into consideration by the law. 

While you do have legal rights even if you didn’t see the doctor right away, because of the lack of symptoms, it will be significantly more difficult to prove that the injury was caused by the accident and not something else in your life. 

If you find yourself in such a situation, don’t give up just yet. Go to the doctor as soon as you notice symptoms that may be related to your accident, and get in touch with a St. Louis car accident attorney. Using the hard evidence provided by medical professionals, testimonies from witnesses, your medical history, and your own statements, an experienced car accident attorney will be able to prove that your suffering is, indeed, caused by the car accident you have been through.

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Free Consultation with a St. Louis Car Accident Lawyer

Don’t talk to an insurance claims adjuster before speaking with The Hoffmann Law Firm, L.L.C. We can help you avoid making statements that may affect the outcome of your case. The consultation is free; you don’t pay unless we get you money!