In Texas, it is required for drivers to buy $30,000 per person and $60,000 per collision bodily injury insurance coverage. This is mandatory so if a driver causes a crash to occur, the driver's insurer can pay for financial losses experienced by collision victims. After a crash, determining who is at fault is key to make a determination on which insurer should pay.
In Houston rear-end accidents, the rear driver is generally presumed at fault because his vehicle was supposed to be far enough away from the car he was following so he wouldn't cause a crash, even if the front car stopped. Since there is a presumption of fault for the rear driver, those who are in the car in front which gets hit can usually pursue an insurance claim to get their losses covered.
The ability to pursue this insurance claim and get compensation for medical bills, wage loss, pain and discomfort, emotional distress, and other damages is going to hinge on the crash victims being able to prove the cause and extent of injuries. This is why it is essential to seek medical attention after a rear-end crash in Houston.
Why Seek Medical Attention After a Rear-End Crash Occurs?
Victims of a crash who wish to pursue an insurance claim for compensation will have the burden of proving both fault (which is usually simple in rear-end crash cases) and also of proving losses. Proving the extent of loss can be more complicated. Getting medical attention will help with this aspect of an injury claim.
When a crash victim gets medical attention after an accident, the doctor who provides treatment can diagnose all injuries the victim sustained from the crash. Whiplash is very common in rear-impact crashes, but victims could suffer a vast array of different injuries, from traumatic brain damage to spinal cord injury or facial injury. Every injury should be documented carefully in a patient's medical records, as these records could be used as evidence later.
Medical records showing the injuries existed immediately after the accident can be helpful for victims who want to prove the accident was the direct cause of those specific medical problems. Without records, insurers could argue injuries had other causes and didn't result from the crash.
Medical records documenting the extent of injuries also helps victims to make a more compelling case for a large damage award. Injuries are usually worst right after the crash happens, so victims want to ensure all of the serious damage to their health is recorded by qualified medical professionals.
Going to doctors and getting this evidence can save crash victims from financial disaster. Auto Insurance Center warns the cost of a bodily injury claim in 2013 had risen to $15,506. Most people cannot afford to pay for all of these costs themselves. Getting medical help allows victims to make a stronger case the insurer should pay for all of these losses, so the victim doesn't have to pay out-of-pocket to cover damages.