Going to the Hospital after a Car Accident: What to Know
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It is always best to go to the hospital or seek medical attention after a car accident, even if you don't think you are injured. This is because sometimes injuries are not immediately apparent, but if you wait to seek medical attention, the insurance company may argue that you must not have been injured.
Table of Contents
- Going to the Hospital after a Car Accident: What to Know
- What to Do after a Car Accident
- If You Aren't Injured after a Car Accident, Should You Still Go to the Hospital?
- Why You Need to Go to a Doctor after a Crash
- Keep Your Family Safe by Following the Law
Going to the Hospital after a Car Accident: What to Know
If you have been involved in a car accident and have been injured, it is always best to seek medical attention immediately. Even if you do not think you are injured, you may have suffered internal injuries that you are not aware of.
There are many different types of car accidents, and each one will vary in severity and the injuries that result. Here are some different types of car accidents and the injuries that may result:
1 - Whiplash
Whiplash is caused when the head is jerked back and forth, causing the muscles and ligaments in the neck to be stretched or torn. Whiplash is common in rear-end collisions. Symptoms of whiplash include pain, stiffness, and headaches.
2 - Fractured Bones
Fractured bones are common in car accidents, especially high-speed collisions. Common fractures include broken wrists and ribs. If you think you may have a broken bone, it is important to seek medical attention immediately.
3 - Head Injuries
Head injuries can be very serious, even deadly. Common head injuries from car accidents include concussions, traumatic brain injuries, and skull fractures. Victims of head injuries may suffer from long-term or permanent disabilities, including cognitive impairments, memory loss, paralysis, and coma.
4 - Spinal Cord Injuries
A spinal cord injury can have a major impact on a person's life, causing paralysis and loss of feeling in the extremities. These types of injuries are common in high-speed collisions and can often lead to a lifetime of disability.
What to Do after a Car Accident
If you have been involved in a car accident and have been injured, there are a few things you should do:
1. Seek Medical Attention Immediately
You could have suffered internal injuries that you may not be aware of. Even if you do not think you are injured, it is important to get checked out by a medical professional as soon as possible.
2. Call the Police
Do not leave the scene of the accident without calling the police. If you are injured, you will want a report to provide to your insurance company and to document the accident.
3. Take Pictures
If you have a camera on your phone, take pictures of the accident scene. This will be helpful in documenting the accident. If there are any injuries, make sure to get pictures of those as well. And if there is damage to either vehicle, be sure to document that as well.
4. Contact Your Insurance Provider
Once you have taken the necessary steps to document the accident and you are able to safely move your vehicle, you need to contact your insurance provider. They will be able to help you get through the process of getting your vehicle repaired or replaced.
5. Get a Lawyer
If you have been involved in a car accident, you need to get a lawyer. It is not always necessary, but in most cases, it is a good idea. Even if there are no injuries and only minor damage to the vehicle, you should still consult with a lawyer. They will be able to tell you if you have a case against the other driver.
If You Aren't Injured after a Car Accident, Should You Still Go to the Hospital?
If you are involved in a car accident, and you are not injured, you may want to go to the hospital anyway. There is a possibility that you could be injured and not even be aware of it. Sometimes, it takes a few days for the pain to manifest itself. In addition, the hospital can do tests that you may not be able to do yourself. For example, if you have a concussion, the hospital will be able to do a CT scan to check for any damage to your brain. You may not be able to do this on your own. Also, adrenaline shields the body from pain temporarily after an accident. This is why you may be injured and not even know it; which is why going to a hospital is still a good idea.
Why You Need to Go to a Doctor after a Crash
1 - Injuries May Not Present Themselves Right Away
In some cases, you may appear to be alright after a crash. But after a few days, you may notice something wrong with your body. It is not uncommon for people to feel pain in their back or neck slightly after an accident.
It is necessary to go to the doctor if you feel any pain after an accident, even if it is minor. Trying to wait it out may cause a minor injury to become a permanent disability.
2 - Proper Documentation
If you want to file a personal injury claim, you will need to have the proper documentation from a doctor. Your insurance company will most likely not consider your claim without this documentation.
You will also need to have documentation if you plan to file a lawsuit against the other driver.
3 - Proper Diagnosis
If you go to the doctor, they will give you a proper diagnosis. They will also be able to provide you with the proper medication or even refer you to a specialist.
This will help you get the treatment you need so you can heal.
Keep Your Family Safe by Following the Law
You need to be safe on the road so you can avoid an accident. When you are involved in a crash, you will need to go to the doctor to get the proper treatment. If you are involved in a crash, contact a personal injury lawyer. They will help you get the maximum compensation for your injuries.
If you need an accident lawyer in Pasadena, come to Mendez and Sanchez Law. Our attorneys and team members are here to help you through the difficult legal landscape as we pursue the compensation you deserve. Please contact us for your Personal Injury, Auto Accident, Workers' Compensation, Slip and Fall, or other legal needs today!
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to file a personal injury claim after a car accident in California?
In California, you generally have two years from the date of the car accident to file a personal injury lawsuit, as established under California Code of Civil Procedure Section 335.1. If your accident involved a government vehicle or a city or county employee — such as an LAPD officer or a Caltrans worker — you must file a government tort claim within just six months of the incident. Missing these deadlines almost always means losing your right to compensation entirely, so it's critical to consult with a personal injury attorney as soon as possible after your crash.
What happens if I wait a few days before going to the doctor after my car accident?
Waiting even a few days to seek medical attention after a car accident can seriously damage your personal injury claim, because insurance adjusters will argue that a gap in treatment proves your injuries weren't serious or weren't caused by the crash. California courts and insurance companies closely scrutinize the timeline between the accident and your first medical visit, and delays are one of the most common reasons claims are denied or undervalued. To protect both your health and your legal rights, you should seek medical attention within 24 to 72 hours of the accident, even if you feel fine.
Does California require the other driver's insurance to pay my medical bills if they were at fault?
Yes — California is a fault-based insurance state, meaning the at-fault driver's liability insurance is responsible for covering your medical expenses, lost wages, and other damages under California Insurance Code Section 11580.1b. California also requires all drivers to carry a minimum of $15,000 in bodily injury liability coverage per person, though that minimum is rising to $30,000 per person for policies issued or renewed after January 1, 2025 under AB 1107. If the at-fault driver is uninsured or underinsured, your own uninsured motorist coverage — which California insurers are required to offer — can help fill the gap.
Can I still get compensation if I was partially at fault for the car accident in California?
Absolutely — California follows a pure comparative negligence rule under California Civil Code Section 1714, which means you can recover damages even if you were partially or even mostly at fault for the accident. Your total compensation is simply reduced by your percentage of fault; for example, if you were found 30% at fault and your damages total $100,000, you would still recover $70,000. This is one of the most favorable comparative fault systems in the country, and it's a key reason why you should never assume you have no case just because you share some responsibility for the crash.
What's the average settlement for a car accident with injuries in California?
There is no single average settlement figure because every case is unique, but minor injury claims in California — such as soft tissue injuries and whiplash — often settle in the range of $10,000 to $75,000, while cases involving serious injuries like spinal cord damage or traumatic brain injuries can result in settlements or verdicts well into the millions. California law allows injury victims to recover economic damages like medical bills and lost income, as well as non-economic damages like pain and suffering under California Civil Code Section 3333. The value of your specific case depends heavily on the severity of your injuries, the clarity of liability, the insurance policy limits involved, and the quality of your medical documentation.
Should I give a recorded statement to the insurance company after my accident in California?
You are not legally required to give a recorded statement to the other driver's insurance company, and in most cases you should politely decline until you have spoken with a personal injury attorney. Insurance adjusters are trained to ask questions in ways that can minimize your claim or shift blame onto you, and anything you say in a recorded statement can and will be used against you during settlement negotiations. While you do have an obligation to cooperate with your own insurance company under your policy terms, even then it's wise to have an attorney review what you're required to say before providing any formal recorded statement.
My neck and back didn't start hurting until two days after the crash — can I still make a claim in California?
Yes, delayed onset of pain — especially in the neck and back — is extremely common after car accidents because the body's adrenaline response temporarily masks pain signals, and conditions like whiplash or herniated discs often don't become symptomatic for 24 to 72 hours or longer. California law does not require you to have been visibly injured at the scene; what matters is that you connect your medical treatment to the accident with proper documentation, which is why you should see a doctor as soon as symptoms appear and tell them specifically that the pain started following your crash. Courts and insurance companies in California accept delayed-symptom claims regularly, particularly when there is a consistent medical record and a credible explanation for the timing.