If you approach the at-fault party’s insurance company with a claim, rest assured that they will do their best to bring down your claim. If they can find a reason to deny or minimize a claim, they are very likely to take it.
They are likely to scrutinize your actions. One of the chief methods they use is looking at medical records. If you are in an accident and submit claims for medical treatment, they will examine the dates to ensure the treatment relates to the accident, not some other cause.
They may question if you don’t seek medical treatment soon after the accident. They may use it to try one of their favorite strategies: using the omission as proof the accident didn’t injure you.
Now, this isn’t fair, of course. Many types of injuries don’t present symptoms immediately. A gap of several days doesn’t indicate that the accident didn’t cause your injury.
But insurance companies don’t think that way. They think of ways to deny or minimize your claim.
If you are in any accident, go to an emergency room or see your physician as soon as possible. A visit to medical personnel preserves your health and safety. Many injuries are “silent”—not feeling pain, or any other symptoms, doesn’t necessarily mean you didn’t sustain injuries. Only a doctor can give you a clean bill of health.
In addition, a “soon as possible” visit eliminates any chance that an insurance carrier will try this technique.