Can You Refuse Medical Treatment After a Car Accident? You can, but don’t!
Last updated Thursday, May 19th, 2022
Can you refuse medical treatment at the scene of an accident? Yes, however, it is one of the biggest mistakes a person can make after a car accident.
Patients have the right to autonomy which includes the right to refuse treatment, however medical treatment is essential for multiple reasons. First, and most important, it is the only way you can recover from your injuries.
Second, not receiving medical treatment can prevent you from recovering fair and full compensation. A knowledgeable car accident lawyer from Skaug Law can further explain the importance of seeking medical treatment after a crash.
Why Refusing Immediate Medical Attention is a Mistake
Refusing immediate medical attention is a mistake. Although a patient has a right to refuse to consent to medical treatment because of either religious or moral beliefs it doesn’t mean it’s wise if a patient refuses treatment.
When someone is hurt in an accident, they are often embarrassed. A patient has the right to refuse treatment but it is not in their best interest to refuse medical care.
Others may feel like they just need to get home, away from the accident, and hope they feel better later. However, many times, people are in shock or have an adrenaline rush that masks their serious injuries. They sometimes refuse treatment when they really need it.
- If the first responder recommends a car wreck victim get in the ambulance or go to the hospital, they should do it.
- If the patient refuses treatment, you can explain that refusing treatment could prevent a person from fully healing from their injuries.
- Without a proper diagnosis from a doctor, a person cannot receive proper treatment.
- Also, not getting immediate treatment can hurt a person’s case for compensation because the insurance company for the other side might try to say their injuries were not serious.
Refusing immediate medical attention is a big mistake. If a client refuses to take medication, the patient might not heal as well as they should. Every patient has the right to refuse treatment but as legal experts, we strongly urge car accident victims to not refuse treatment.
- Until a qualified medical professional diagnoses you thoroughly, you may not know the true extent of your injuries. Free clinics can help you find free or income-based clinics and prevent medical bills after a car accident.
- Your case for compensation may suffer if you don’t get the necessary medical treatment because the other side might claim that your injuries weren’t serious enough to warrant compensation.
Just because patients have the right to refuse treatment however does not mean it is in their best interests to do so.
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Not Following Doctors’ Orders After a Car Crash
It’s a big mistake for an injured person to ignore their doctor’s orders or to not follow up on medical care. Refusing care is bad for both your health and bad for your personal injury case because ignoring treatment can have a serious negative impact on the amount of compensation you can recover in a claim.
Don’t let a gap in treatment happen!
If there is a gap in the medical treatment that was recommended by your doctor, physical therapist or chiropractor, a clever insurance attorney will point out that the injured person (you) must not have been hurt badly because you skipped appointments.
Medical bills are evidence of your injury!
Also, medical bills are some of the main sources of evidence in a car accident case. They show how much treatment the patient needed and what they needed treatment for. This allows a lawyer from Skaug Law to claim compensation that covers all these bills and can help illustrate the pain and suffering a person endured because of their injuries.
Simply put, you need to follow your doctor’s orders, and never skip an appointment, in order to get fair compensation.
If you’re in a car accident, don’t ask if you can refuse medical treatment, even if you can’t afford it
It’s far too common for those who have been injured in an auto accident to not get needed medical care because they don’t think they can afford a large medical bill. Or they may be afraid their treatment will not get covered by the insurance company.
If you, as a patient refuses treatment, then you need to stop and think about how important your physical health is. Not taking care of yourself now can have consequences for the rest of your life. Reach out to a car accident lawyer and let us worry about getting those bills covered so that you can heal.
A dedicated lawyer from Skaug Law can help you build a strong claim for compensation so you can get the full and fair compensation that covers all your medical bills.
Call us today for a free consultation to discuss how we can help.
