EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14\/CBS4) \u2014 Many people hesitate to call an ambulance after getting hurt because they worry about the cost, but an injury attorney says skipping an ambulance ride does not automatically prevent someone from being compensated if they were not at fault.<\/p>\n
KFOX DVR_WINDOW<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
During a weekly \u201cLegal Jargon\u201d segment on ARC El Paso, attorney Daniela Labinoti addressed a question about whether an injured person can still pursue compensation if they choose not to take an ambulance to the hospital in an injury case.<\/p>\n
\u201cActually, most of my client do not use the ambulance because like yourself, they feel like, oh my God, I’m not going to get an ambulance,\u201d Labinoti said. \u201cI’m going to get an ambulance bill.\u201d<\/p>\n
Labinoti said cost is not the only reason people avoid ambulances. <\/p>\n
\u201cMore importantly, there is an anxiety when you go into the ambulance because you’re like, oh my God, I’m going to leave my my car there or you just feel like what’s going to happen to you,\u201d she said. \u201cIt’s actually it’s very uncomfortable to go inside the ambulance.\u201d<\/p>\n
She said some people instead go home to rest and later go to the emergency room if they do not improve, while others have a family member drive them to the ER because it feels more comfortable.<\/p>\n
Labinoti noted that even if someone does not ride in an ambulance, they can still seek medical evaluation and treatment. She said emergency rooms can provide a full checkup, including CT scans or X-rays, and people can also seek other care such as therapy or visits with specialists.<\/p>\n
She also said that in many cases, emergency medical services may still respond and assess someone at the scene. <\/p>\n
\u201cA lots of time, the EMS arrived at the scene, the paramedics, they will check on you,\u201d she said. \u201cThey will check the vitals and all of that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Labinti emphasized that there are situations where an ambulance is necessary. <\/p>\n
\u201cNow, of course, if you are bleeding, if you have broken bones, get on the ambulance because those people have, they’re going to provide to you life-threatening assistance when it comes to, if something serious is or if you have internal bleeding, you want to be under control of the paramedics and the EMS,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
She also cautioned that injuries can feel less severe in the moment. <\/p>\n
\u201cBut remember the adrenaline rush, the adrenaline must your pain all the time,\u201d Labanati said.<\/p>\n
Still, she said choosing not to take an ambulance does not, by itself, harm an injury claim. <\/p>\n
\u201cThere is healthcare, medical care available to you or use your own health insurance, but that’s not going to affect your case at all,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
RECOMMENDED: Medical Mythbusters: The conversation of peptides<\/a><\/p>\n