What to Do if You Are Hospitalized After a St. Louis Car Crash

Each year, three million persons in the United States alone are injured in non-fatal car crashes. What happens if you need to be hospitalized?

Car accidents can have devastating consequences on those involved. Each year, three million persons in the United States alone are injured in non-fatal car crashes. The medical costs and productivity losses due to auto accidents were as high as 75 billion dollars in 2017. 

As a driver, you almost certainly carry auto insurance and know that in the case of an accident, proof of liability and the extent of the damage must be collected as soon as the accident happens. There are many types of evidence that you can collect at the scene of an accident:

• Photos of the vehicles involved
• Photos of the road, debris, road signs, skid marks, faulty roads, weather conditions
• Information on the other drivers and their insurance companies
• Contact information of witnesses

However, what happens if your injuries are so severe that you need to be hospitalized? If you are conscious, contact a friend or family member and ask them to be at the scene as soon as possible, to collect the evidence for you. If your health allows it, try to gather as much information as you can before you are taken away for medical care.

If you were not conscious, the police report and paramedics report will serve as your most important evidence, and you will have to rely on the officers to gather the other information.

What To Do When in the Hospital?

Once you are in the hospital, another type of evidence is generated: medical records. If you are able to communicate with the doctors and nurses, make sure you describe your symptoms as accurately and genuinely as possible. Exaggerating them or acting like they’re less serious are both very bad ideas.

Mention that you were involved in a car accident and ask for copies of all medical records and investigations.

If you are kept in the hospital only to receive emergency care, you will have to schedule a doctor’s appointment with your general practitioner, in order to be examined thoroughly. Some injuries can manifest delayed symptoms, or show signs so subtle that they can be brushed off as nothing, when in fact they are putting you in danger.

Speak With an Experienced Car Accident Lawyer As Soon As Possible

When it comes to legal advice, it’s best to be represented by a reputable St. Louis car accident attorney. If you or your family take immediate measures and find an experienced attorney, you maximize your chance of receiving the compensation you deserve. Your attorney can go to the accident scene, talk to witnesses and insurance company representatives, and they can even negotiate a payment plan with the doctors.

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