When Minor Injuries Become Major Injuries
If you are involved in an accident, some injuries will manifest themselves immediately, such as broken bones, scratches and other visible wounds. However, other injuries may not make themselves known for hours, days, or even weeks – or, in some cases, they may present as minor injuries, not needing immediate medical attention. Sometimes, injuries that you might otherwise view as able to heal on their own will wind up needing significant medical care.
Seek Medical Care ASAP
One thing that can be said to all who have been involved in an accident caused by someone else’s negligence is to seek medical treatment immediately, even if you do not strictly believe it necessary. Not only will this give you a full report on whatever injuries you may have sustained, but if you were injured in an auto accident, you are required by law to seek medical care within 14 days of the event if you want to take advantage of your personal injury protection (PIP) insurance.
At the time, some of your injuries may be seen as minor, but medical professionals who are properly observing a high standard of care will take notice of conditions that may evolve or get worse. For example, a person with a traumatic brain injury (TBI) may only display minimal symptoms at first, but over time, the brain may display deeper and more problematic indicators that something is seriously wrong.
Show Where Injuries Came From
If you sustain an injury as a result of another person’s negligent behavior, and decide to seek compensation from the person who allegedly caused you harm, be ready to provide a current catalog of the injuries you believe to have stemmed from the accident itself. This is the number one reason why seeking medical care quickly is crucial – if you can establish that, say, a debilitating back injury was noted as a minor issue at the time of the accident, it is more likely that a judge or jury will be able to accept its evolution into something more serious.
Keep in mind that sometimes, injuries can be exacerbated or even caused by medical professionals. In some rarer cases, an injury you may believe you sustained in the initial accident may actually be traceable to negligent medical care. It is difficult to establish a claim for medical malpractice in Florida – not least of all because an affidavit from a qualified medical expert is required before initiating this type of suit – but it can be done.
Contact A Tampa Personal Injury Attorney
Injuries evolve and change over time; while most of the time it is for the better, sometimes it is not. If you have questions or concerns about a claim involving what seems like a minor injury (at least for now), contacting a Tampa personal injury attorney from the Rinaldo Law Group can be the first step toward receiving the compensation you deserve. Contact our office today for dedicated and compassionate representation.
Source:
flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2021/627.736
