Do I Need to See a Doctor After a Slip and Fall?

If you have suffered an injury in a slip and fall accident, it is in your best interest to seek medical treatment right away. These injuries have a tendency to get worse over time. This means that a seemingly minor injury could develop into something serious in the days or weeks following a fall.  

Seeing a doctor immediately after a fall protects more than your physical health. It also protects your potential personal injury claim against the property owner. The sooner you seek medical treatment, the stronger your case could be. A Los Angeles slip and fall lawyer could advise you on the importance of seeking medical care after a fall.  

Is there a legal deadline for seeking medical treatment? 

There is no law that requires you to pursue medical care immediately after an accident. You have the right to seek medical care when you believe it is necessary. There is no deadline that can negatively impact your access to care.  

That said, there is an important legal deadline you should be aware of. The statute of limitations is a firm deadline for filing an injury lawsuit. If you wait too long to file a legal claim, the statute of limitations could prevent you from pursuing monetary damages from the at-fault party. In California, you have two years from the date of the fall to file a lawsuit.  

The importance of seeking immediate medical care 

Pursuing medical care immediately following a fall is important for multiple reasons. The first relates directly to your health. Many injuries are easier to treat when they are addressed immediately. In other words, the sooner a doctor can diagnose your injury, the sooner you can begin to heal. In cases where medical intervention is required, any delay could lead to your injuries becoming worse than necessary.   

Many people decide to wait to seek medical care after a fall. They might not feel the immediate effects of the injury right away or assume their minor pain will fade on its own. In most cases, the opposite is true. Minor slip and fall injuries frequently get worse over time. This is especially true for head injuries. In cases of concussions, some symptoms do not appear for weeks following a fall.  

Your health is not the only thing immediate medical attention could protect. If you intend to pursue a personal injury claim with the help of slip and fall lawyers, seeking immediate medical treatment could also protect your legal case. When you go to the doctor, it creates a paper trail. Your medical records not only indicate that you sought treatment, but they also corroborate the injuries you describe in your lawsuit.  

What’s more, your medical records will outline the treatment plan your doctor has prescribed. As you continue through your treatment plan, your medical records will reflect that you have complied with your doctor’s orders. This is important, as the at-fault party could otherwise argue that you failed to mitigate your losses.  

In fact, seeking immediate medical care can head off many of the arguments the defense might rely on. If you delay treatment, the at-fault party could argue that your injuries occur after the fall in question. They could also suggest that your injuries were not as serious as you claim. If you seek immediate medical care following a slip and fall accident, your records could take the air out of these arguments. Seeing your doctor right away after a fall is the best way to assist your slip & fall attorney.  

Talk to an attorney about your slip and fall injury 

Pursuing medical treatment immediately after your fall can strengthen your legal claim. However, it is only one factor that could determine whether or not you obtain the compensation you deserve. One of the most important factors in these cases is your choice of Los Angeles personal injury lawyer. To maximize your recover, contact Ellis Injury Law right away.