If I Go to the Hospital and I Don’t Have Severe Injuries, Do I Still Have a Personal Injury Case?

The topic of this video is if I go to the hospital and I don’t have severe injuries, do I still have a personal injury case? And the answer to your question is yes, absolutely. So what most people don’t understand is that when they go to a hospital following either a car accident or a motorcycle accident or even a slip and fall or trip and fall or whatever the accident may be, the emergency room is simply looking to determine that the person is in a stable condition. It doesn’t have any life-threatening injuries. So what they’re doing is they’re gonna check you with an x-ray to make sure you don’t have any broken bones. And they’re also going to give you diagnostic tests to determine, for example, that you don’t have any internal bleeding. So the year, okay, so if the discharge you, you’re not going to die.

But that’s really all a hospital visit is going to do. So the most common example is an auto accident. Someone gets rear ended there back in her back and neck hurt. And so they go to the hospital, the hospital checks them out, gives them an x-ray and says, you’re fine, you’re free to go. They may diagnose them with a neck strain or a back strain or sprain, uh, but no significant injuries. And so what most people do not understand is that does not end the car accident claim. It does not mean that simply because you don’t have a broken bone or a serious medical condition that’s going to cause you to, uh, to have a stroke or die, uh, that you can’t bring in an accident claim. And so, uh, I run into this quite frequently fright quite frequently with my clients and they just sort of think, well, I don’t have a case.

Okay, my medical bills are taken care of. But what they don’t understand is that the emergency room is not there to diagnose whether they’re going to continue to have neck pain or whether they’re going to continue to have back pain, whether they’re going to, uh, have trouble sleeping or bending or twisting or do or lifting any type of weight in the future. That’s just not the purpose of the metal, of the emergency room. And so what actually needs to happen is that the patient needs to be then referred to a specialist to look at whatever is continuing to hurt. And really the only diagnostic tests that is going to determine what the extent of the injury really is, is an MRI because that’s a much more sensitive test than an x ray. So even though you may go into the emergency room, your x ray may come back negative.

Well, you may have all kinds of positive findings on an MRI that shows spinal injuries. So like I said, it’s a common misunderstanding that if you go into a hospital and do not get diagnosed with severe injuries, uh, that you don’t have an accident claim, you absolutely still do. And in every one of those circumstances, I suggest you speak to a lawyer or you continue with the treatment with either a chiropractor or an orthopedics orthopedist or someone to do physical therapy, someone that’s going to be able to diagnose those, uh, perhaps less severe injuries, but still severe enough that will affect your life going forward. So hopefully this information was hope a helpful, and it answers the question as to if you go to the hospital and you are not diagnosed with some type of severe injury, whether you still have a personal act, personal injury case.

*The above has been transcribed by a third party service and has not been checked for accuracy.

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If you or a loved one have been injured in an accident, then you should take the proper measures to ensure you receive the compensation you deserve. Contact St. Petersburg Personal Injury Attorneys McQuaid & Douglas today and speak with an attorney. For over 60 years our firm has been successfully helping people who have been injured due to someone else’s carelessness. We have been nationally ranked for decades by US News and World Reports as a Tier 1 law firm, which is the highest ranking that can be received. Sean McQuaid and Jonathon Douglas have dedicated their careers to continuing the firms legacy of superior legal representation.

Remember that we never charge a fee, unless we win. Call us today at 727-381-2300 so that we may answer your questions, help you navigate the complexities of insurance claims, and recover the compensation that you deserve.

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St. Petersburg Personal Injury Attorneys McQuaid & Douglas
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  • St. Petersburg Personal Injury Attorneys McQuaid & Douglas bring decades of experience helping injured individuals secure the justice and compensation they deserve. Our proven track record of success highlights our commitment to delivering exceptional results for our clients. Our firm’s longstanding reputation is built on earning great outcomes while treating every client with respect and fairness.
  • Our attorneys have earned recognition in The Best Lawyers in America 2024 Edition for Personal Injury—a prestigious honor reflecting our excellence in the field. This recognition is based on a rigorous peer-review process, where top attorneys evaluate their colleagues’ professional abilities within the same geographic and legal practice areas. The endorsement of our peers further solidifies our reputation for providing outstanding legal representation.
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  • Our attorneys are also members of the exclusive Million Dollar Advocates Forum, a prestigious acknowledgment reserved for trial attorneys who have secured million-dollar or multi-million-dollar verdicts and settlements. With less than 1% of U.S. attorneys earning this distinction, our membership demonstrates the exceptional skill and success we bring to significant personal injury cases.
  • St. Petersburg Personal Injury Attorneys McQuaid & Douglas stand out for our unwavering dedication to client success and our deep expertise in personal injury law. Our attorneys consistently secure favorable outcomes for clients, earning a reputation for diligence, compassion, and legal acumen. Known for being tough yet fair, we prioritize personalized service to ensure each client receives the attention and support they deserve throughout their legal journey.
  • When you choose McQuaid & Douglas, you’re choosing a team that is committed to having your back. Count on us to deliver the results you need when it matters most.
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