Should I Go to the Doctor After a Car Accident in Hickory, NC?

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Should I Go to the Doctor After a Car Accident in Hickory, NC?

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You’re traveling down I-40 when another driver rear-ends your car. The impact jolts you forward, hitting your head on the steering wheel. You’re disoriented and in pain, but you don’t think you’ve been seriously injured. So, should you go to the doctor?

A car accident is not just an unexpected event but also a jarring and disorienting one. You may be eager to get home or back to work and put the accident behind you, but it is crucial that you see a doctor as soon as possible after a car accident.

At The Law Offices of Jason E. Taylor, we have assisted car accident victims in Hickory, NC, for over 17 years. We know the ins and outs of the legal process and can help you get a fair settlement. Contact a Hickory car accident lawyer today for a free consultation and to get started on your car accident case.

Common Types of Car Accident Injuries in Hickory, North Carolina

Whiplash

Whiplash is a common neck injury that occurs after a car accident. It is caused by the sudden jerking of the head, which can damage the neck’s muscles, ligaments, and discs. Symptoms of whiplash include neck pain, stiffness, headaches, dizziness, and fatigue.

Whiplash can often be treated with ice, rest, and over-the-counter pain medication. However, whiplash can lead to back pain, numbness, and tingling in the arms if the symptoms are severe.

Broken Bones

Broken bones are another common type of injury that can occur after a car wreck. They can happen when the body is hit with a lot of force, such as during a high-speed collision. Symptoms of a broken bone include pain, swelling, and bruising.

If you think you may have broken a bone, it is important to see a doctor immediately. Broken bones usually need to be set and may even require surgery.

Internal Injuries

Internal injuries occur when the force of the collision causes organs to rupture or bleed. Symptoms of internal injuries include abdominal pain, chest pain, and shortness of breath.

Traumatic Brain Injuries

Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are another type of injury that can occur after a car accident. They happen when the head is hit with a lot of force, which can cause the brain to swell or bleed. Symptoms of a TBI include headaches, dizziness, nausea, and fatigue. TBIs can be life-threatening and need to be treated immediately.

Other injuries such as bruises, cuts, strains, and sprains can also occur after a car accident. While these injuries are often not as serious as the injuries listed above, they still require treatment.

You deserve to recover compensation for your injuries and any medical expenses you have incurred due to the car accident. Going to the doctor ensures that your injuries will be well documented and can help you get the compensation you deserve.

When Should I Seek Medical Treatment?

If you have been in a car accident, you should seek medical treatment as soon as possible. This is especially true if you are experiencing any of the symptoms listed above. If your injuries are not severe and don’t require immediate treatment at the scene, going to the doctor as soon as the accident happens is still a good idea.

This is because some injuries, such as whiplash, can take days or weeks to develop symptoms. By seeking medical treatment right away, you will ensure that you get the medical attention you need to prevent further injury. Additionally, the longer you wait to seek medical treatment, the more difficult it may be to prove that your injuries were a result of the collision.  

What Type of Doctors Should I See?

Every car accident is different, so the type of doctor you see will depend on your injuries. However, a few types of doctors are often seen after car accidents. These include:

Emergency Room Doctors

Emergency room doctors are often the first type of doctor you will see after a car accident. They can treat serious injuries, such as broken bones and internal bleeding.

Primary Care or Urgent Care Doctors

Primary or urgent care doctors can treat less serious injuries like bruises and cuts. They can also refer you to specialists if necessary.

Specialists

Specialists are doctors who have specific training in treating certain types of injuries. For example, a neurologist may treat a traumatic brain injury, while an orthopedist may treat a broken bone. Often, you will need to see a primary care, urgent care, or emergency room doctor before being referred to a specialist.

Car accidents can be stressful and overwhelming. However, seeking medical treatment is an important step in recovery.

What Should I Bring to My Appointment?

When you go to the doctor after a car accident, there are a few things you should bring with you. These include:

  • Your health insurance information
  • The police report from the accident
  • Any pictures you took of the accident scene or your injuries
  • A list of symptoms you have been experiencing since the accident

By bringing these items to your appointment, you will ensure that the doctor has all the information they need to treat your injuries properly and establish the etiology (cause) of your injuries.

What Are My Options for Paying for Medical Treatment?

After a car accident, you may be wondering how you will pay for your medical treatment. Here are a few of your options:

Your Auto Insurance’s Medical Payments Coverage

If you didn’t cause the accident, you might not want to file a car accident claim with your own insurance policy to pay for your medical bills. However, some coverage is specifically made for these special circumstances. North Carolina may require drivers to carry bodily injury liability, property damage liability, and uninsured motorist coverage. However, you may also consider getting additional coverage, such as Medical Payments coverage, often referred to as Med Pay.

Med Pay is a type of insurance that can help pay for you and your passenger’s medical bills after an accident, regardless of who caused the accident. This coverage can be used to pay for ambulance rides, hospital stays, surgery, and physical therapy.

Med Pay is not required in North Carolina, and the amount you can purchase varies widely. At The Law Offices of Jason E. Taylor, we can work with your medical providers and assist you with making a Med Pay claim if you have Med Pay coverage. While Med Pay may not cover everything, it can help ease the financial burden after an accident.

Health Insurance

You should also be able to use your health insurance to help pay for your medical bills. However, you should check with your insurance company to see what is covered before seeking treatment. Often, health insurance will only cover a portion of the cost, and you may be responsible for the rest.

Paying Out of Pocket

If you don’t have Med Pay or health insurance, you may be responsible for paying your medical bills out of pocket. This can be a significant financial burden, so it’s important to consider all your options before deciding how to pay for your treatment.  This is because while the other driver may be at fault, those bills are still in your name.  Most auto insurance companies don’t pay as you go, but rather reimburse you in a lump sum once you’ve settled.  

At The Law Offices of Jason E. Taylor, we understand the challenges you may be facing after a car accident. We can help you navigate the process of seeking medical treatment and ensure you get the care you need. Contact us today for a free consultation. We’ll review your personal injury claim and help you understand your options.

Contact a North Carolina Car Accident Attorney in Hickory, NC

If you have been in a car accident, you should first assess your injuries. Many people choose not to see a doctor after an accident because they don’t think they are injured. However, this can be a dangerous decision.

If you have been in a car accident, it is also important to contact an experienced car accident attorney. The lawyers at The Law Offices of Jason E. Taylor can help you understand your legal rights and options. We represent clients who have been injured in car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, and pedestrian accidents. Our team of experienced lawyers will fight for you to get fair compensation. Contact us today for a free consultation.

120 3rd St NE
Hickory, NC 28601

Phone: (828) 327-9004
Toll Free: (800) 351-3008

 

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120 3rd St NE
Hickory, NC 28601

Phone: (828) 327-9004
Toll Free: (800) 351-3008

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Charlotte, NC 28204

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Notice of Data Security Event
Updated March 28, 2025

The Law Offices of Jason E. Taylor is providing notice of an event that may affect certain individuals’ information. Although we have no indication of identity theft or fraud in relation to this event, we are providing information about the event, our response, and additional measures individuals can take to help protect their information, should they feel it appropriate to do so.

What Happened? On October 28, 2024, The Law Offices of Jason E. Taylor identified suspicious activity related to our email system. We quickly took steps to investigate and determined that an unknown actor may have accessed certain emails within our email system between August 7 and November 7, 2024. We then conducted a comprehensive review of the potentially affected emails and attachments to determine what information was contained therein and to whom the information related, which was completed on February 25, 2025. Unfortunately, we were unable to verify the addresses of certain affected individuals, so we are providing this notice to ensure potentially affected individuals receive information about the event.

What Information Was Involved? The information affected may include individuals’ Social Security number, driver’s license and state ID information, financial account number, and health information.

What We Are Doing. We are notifying individuals about this matter and providing guidance about free resources that are available to assist with monitoring relevant accounts, credit reports, and how to place a fraud alert or security freeze on one’s credit file. Further, as with our typical security practices, we will continue to evaluate our policies, procedures, staff training, and technical security measures to reduce the likelihood of an event like this reoccurring.

What Individuals Can Do. We encourage you to remain vigilant against incidents of identity theft and fraud by reviewing your account statements and monitoring your free credit reports for suspicious activity and to detect errors. We also recommend you review the below “Steps Individuals Can Take To Help Protect Personal Information”.

For More Information. If individuals have questions about this matter, we have a dedicated assistance line with agents ready to answer their questions. Please contact our toll-free dedicated assistance line at 1-800-939-4170, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. through 9 p.m., excluding holidays. You may also write to us at The Law Offices of Jason E. Taylor, Attn: Compliance, P.O. Box 2688, Hickory, NC 28603.

Sincerely,

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STEPS INDIVIDUALS CAN TAKE TO HELP PROTECT PERSONAL INFORMATION

Monitor Your Accounts

Under U.S. law, a consumer is entitled to one free credit report annually from each of the three major credit reporting bureaus, Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. To order a free credit report, visit www.annualcreditreport.com or call, toll-free, 1-877-322-8228. Consumers may also directly contact the three major credit reporting bureaus listed below to request a free copy of their credit report.

Consumers have the right to place an initial or extended “fraud alert” on a credit file at no cost. An initial fraud alert is a 1-year alert that is placed on a consumer’s credit file. Upon seeing a fraud alert display on a consumer’s credit file, a business is required to take steps to verify the consumer’s identity before extending new credit. If consumers are the victim of identity theft, they are entitled to an extended fraud alert, which is a fraud alert lasting seven years. Should consumers wish to place a fraud alert, please contact any of the three major credit reporting bureaus listed below.

As an alternative to a fraud alert, consumers have the right to place a “credit freeze” on a credit report, which will prohibit a credit bureau from releasing information in the credit report without the consumer’s express authorization. The credit freeze is designed to prevent credit, loans, and services from being approved in a consumer’s name without consent. However, consumers should be aware that using a credit freeze to take control over who gets access to the personal and financial information in their credit report may delay, interfere with, or prohibit the timely approval of any subsequent request or application they make regarding a new loan, credit, mortgage, or any other account involving the extension of credit. Pursuant to federal law, consumers cannot be charged to place or lift a credit freeze on their credit report. To request a credit freeze, individuals may need to provide some or all of the following information:

1. Full name (including middle initial as well as Jr., Sr., II, III, etc.);
2. Social Security number;
3. Date of birth;
4. Addresses for the prior two to five years;
5. Proof of current address, such as a current utility bill or telephone bill;
6. A legible photocopy of a government-issued identification card (state driver’s license or ID card, etc.); and
7. A copy of either the police report, investigative report, or complaint to a law enforcement agency concerning identity theft if they are a victim of identity theft.

Should consumers wish to place a credit freeze or fraud alert, please contact the three major credit reporting bureaus listed below:

Equifax Experian TransUnion
https://www.equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services/ https://www.experian.com/help/

https://www.transunion.com/credit-help
1-888-298-0045 1-888-397-3742 1-800-916-8800
Equifax Fraud Alert, P.O. Box 105069 Atlanta, GA 30348-5069 Experian Fraud Alert, P.O. Box 9554, Allen, TX 75013 TransUnion Fraud Alert, P.O. Box 2000, Chester, PA 19016
Equifax Credit Freeze, P.O. Box 105788 Atlanta, GA 30348-5788 Experian Credit Freeze, P.O. Box 9554, Allen, TX 75013 TransUnion Credit Freeze, P.O. Box 160, Woodlyn, PA 19094

Additional Information

Consumers may further educate themselves regarding identity theft, fraud alerts, credit freezes, and the steps they can take to protect their personal information by contacting the consumer reporting bureaus, the Federal Trade Commission, or their state attorney general. The Federal Trade Commission may be reached at: 600 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20580; www.identitytheft.gov; 1-877-ID-THEFT (1-877-438-4338); and TTY: 1-866-653-4261. The Federal Trade Commission also encourages those who discover that their information has been misused to file a complaint with them. Consumers can obtain further information on how to file such a complaint by way of the contact information listed above. Consumers have the right to file a police report if they ever experience identity theft or fraud. Please note that in order to file a report with law enforcement for identity theft, consumers will likely need to provide some proof that they have been a victim. Instances of known or suspected identity theft should also be reported to law enforcement and the relevant state attorney general. This notice has not been delayed by law enforcement.

For District of Columbia residents, the District of Columbia Attorney General may be contacted at: 400 6th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20001; 1-202-442-9828; and oag.dc.gov.

For Maryland residents, the Maryland Attorney General may be contacted at: 200 St. Paul Place, 16th Floor, Baltimore, MD 21202; 1-410-576-6300 or 1-888-743-0023; and https://www.marylandattorneygeneral.gov/.

For New Mexico residents, consumers have rights pursuant to the Fair Credit Reporting Act, such as the right to be told if information in their credit file has been used against them, the right to know what is in their credit file, the right to ask for their credit score, and the right to dispute incomplete or inaccurate information. Further, pursuant to the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the consumer reporting bureaus must correct or delete inaccurate, incomplete, or unverifiable information; consumer reporting agencies may not report outdated negative information; access to consumers’ files is limited; consumers must give consent for credit reports to be provided to employers; consumers may limit “prescreened” offers of credit and insurance based on information in their credit report; and consumers may seek damages from violators. Consumers may have additional rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act not summarized here. Identity theft victims and active-duty military personnel have specific additional rights pursuant to the Fair Credit Reporting Act. We encourage consumers to review their rights pursuant to the Fair Credit Reporting Act by visiting www.consumerfinance.gov/f/201504_cfpb_summary_your-rights-under-fcra.pdf, or by writing Consumer Response Center, Room 130-A, Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20580.

For New York residents, the New York Attorney General may be contacted at: Office of the Attorney General, The Capitol, Albany, NY 12224-0341; 1-800-771-7755; or https://ag.ny.gov.

For North Carolina residents, the North Carolina Attorney General may be contacted at: 9001 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-9001; 1-877-566-7226 or 1-919-716-6000; and www.ncdoj.gov.

For Rhode Island residents, the Rhode Island Attorney General may be reached at: 150 South Main Street, Providence, RI 02903; 1-401-274-4400; and www.riag.ri.gov. Under Rhode Island law, individuals have the right to obtain any police report filed in regard to this event.
STEPS INDIVIDUALS CAN TAKE TO HELP PROTECT A MINOR DEPENDENT’S PERSONAL INFORMATION

Typically, credit reporting agencies do not have a credit report in a minor’s name. To find out if a minor has a credit report or to request a manual search for a minor’s Social Security number each credit bureau has its own process. To learn more about these processes or request these services, consumers may contact the credit bureaus by phone, writing, or online:
Equifax Experian TransUnion
https://www.equifax.com/personal/help/article-list/-/h/a/request-child-credit-report/
https://www.experian.com/help/minor-request.html
https://www.transunion.com/fraud-victim-resources/child-identity-theft

1-800-685-1111 1-888-397-3742 1-800-916-8800
P.O. Box 105788
Atlanta, GA 30348-5788 P.O. Box 9554
Allen, TX 75013 P.O. Box 2000
Chester, PA 19016

To request information about the existence of a credit file in a minor’s name, search for a minor’s Social Security number, place a security freeze or fraud alert on a minor’s credit report (if one exists), or request a copy of a minor’s credit report consumers may be required to provide the following information:
● A copy of their driver’s license or another government issued identification card, such as a state identification card, etc.;
● Proof of address, such as a copy of a bank statement, utility bill, insurance statement, etc.;
● A copy of the minor’s birth certificate;
● A copy of the minor’s Social Security card;
● The minor’s full name, including middle initial and generation, such as JR, SR, II, III, etc.;
● The minor’s date of birth; and
● The minor’s previous addresses for the past two years.

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