Whether you should take an ambulance after a car accident depends on how badly you were hurt. If you sustained a severe injury, you have a medical condition, or something just feels off, take the ride. It is better to be safe than sorry.
What kind of injuries justify taking an ambulance from a crash?
Any serious injury can justify taking an ambulance from the scene of an accident to the hospital. Some examples of serious injuries that can justify taking an ambulance are:
- Head injuries
- Spinal injuries
- Serious burns
- Broken bones
- Significant bleeding or blood loss, or injuries that will not stop bleeding
- Injuries to babies or children
- Injuries to the elderly
What pre-existing conditions should I be mindful of after a car accident?
People with certain pre-existing conditions should take an ambulance if they have been in a car accident. Women in their third trimester of pregnancy or in a high-risk pregnancy should take an ambulance to the hospital, regardless of the severity of the accident. People with serious heart conditions or other significant medical conditions should also ride to the hospital in an ambulance.
You should also take an ambulance if something feels off. If you feel dizzy, disoriented, or feel any type of pain or discomfort, the EMTs might recommend you take the ambulance to the hospital. This is because not all injuries are apparent at the scene. That slight discomfort could mean something much more serious.
Will it hurt my claim if I do not take an ambulance?
No. You can still get compensation for your injuries if you do not take an ambulance. When the insurer evaluates your injuries claim, it will use your medical records to establish what injuries you suffered as a result of the accident.
This means that even if you do not take an ambulance from the scene, you need to get medical attention as soon as possible to protect your physical health and link any injuries to the accident.
Will taking an ambulance help my case?
Maybe. The means of transportation from the scene of the accident to the hospital seldom is a factor. However, if you were able to drive yourself to the hospital, but your personal injury claim states that you had serious injuries, the insurance adjuster may be more skeptical of your injuries than if you had taken an ambulance.
Of course, if you had to be airlifted to a high-level trauma center, that will be an indication of the severity of your injuries, but the bottom line is what the medical records show.
What if I cannot afford an ambulance ride?
Ambulance rides can be expensive. However, if we win your injury case, we can recover compensation for the ambulance ride and any other injury-related expenses. Do not forgo an ambulance ride if you really need it.
For help recovering ambulance and other injury-related costs, call the Law Office of Jason R. Schultz, P.C. today at 404-474-0804.