Risks With Self-Diagnosing Injuries

Money is tight, and some accident victims unfortunately try to diagnose their own injuries after a car crash. Going online might seem like a smart, low-cost way of identifying what is wrong, but self-diagnosis carries unacceptably high risks. Instead of using the internet to aid in diagnosis, head to the hospital after an accident to receive proper treatment from a qualified medical professional. Then call us.

You Can Jeopardize Your Legal Case if You Self-Diagnose Injuries

Here are some of the major risks which come with using the internet to diagnose your pain:

1. Misdiagnosis. Pain is a symptom of dozens of injuries, so there is a real risk of misdiagnosis. You might think lower back pain is a strain when it’s really a pinched nerve or spinal column injury. Doctors often use imaging tests to see inside the body to help aid in the correct diagnosis of brain injuries, broken bones, and strains. Without a proper diagnosis, you cannot treat your injuries.
2. Prolonged pain and injury. Accident victims who self-diagnose end up in more pain and take longer to heal. Some treatment is only available from a doctor, such as medication to treat an infection.
3. Permanent disability. Some injuries can become permanent if you do not receive prompt medical treatment. A serious spinal cord injury could progress to full paralysis. Some injuries carry complications. For example, a burn injury might become infected, which can end up leading to amputation or other permanent impairment.
4. Smaller settlement. Under South Dakota law, an accident victim must take reasonable steps to get better after an accident. If you have ongoing pain and disability, then a defendant can argue you are to blame because you did not receive timely medical treatment.
5. Prolonged negotiation. Self-diagnosis will delay a settlement, because the other side might question whether you are injured. And we can’t blame them: you could have no medical records showing what is wrong. The ordinary car accident claim is based on X-rays, MRIs, and other tests which clearly show a victim’s injury. When you skip going to the hospital, then you do not have solid records to back up your claim.

Reach out to Hoy Law if you need assistance after a car crash. We can discuss ways of paying for medical care so that you can immediately begin treatment. For example, someone with health insurance through work can use it to receive prompt care. Your insurer will probably have a right to reimbursement, but at least you are treating your injuries. If you have no insurance or money, we can strategize ways to obtain medical treatment.

Contact a Sioux Falls Personal Injury Lawyer

Hoy Law recognizes that injury claims are needlessly complex. After a car crash, you might not know what insurance to use or even where to submit a claim. Injured victims need financial compensation to help them with bills and other expenses. Get the right legal team in your corner by contacting our office to speak with a Sioux Falls, SD personal injury attorney.