Should I Get Medical Treatment After my Car Accident
One of the most common questions people have after a car accident is whether they should seek medical treatment. People involved in minor accidents, “fender benders,” and even serious accidents sometimes feel that if they’re not actively bleeding everywhere, they wouldn’t need medical help. Some people believe that if they can’t see the injury, then there must not be one. This is not true, and it is important to remember that, just because you can’t see an injury doesn’t mean one isn’t there.
Injuries such as whiplash, internal bleeding, some fractures, and head injuries don’t necessarily present themselves right away. In addition, the adrenaline coursing through your body following an accident can prevent you from feeling the effects of an injury. It is important to always seek medical attention, even if you were involved in what you feel was a minor accident.
Seeking Immediate Medical Treatment
It is important that you get checked out by a medical doctor as soon as possible. Documenting your injuries immediately following your accident can be important to proving a claim for compensation. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain by seeing a doctor immediately.
Seeking Medical Treatment the Next Day
Many car accident victims go to the doctor the next day because that’s when they begin to feel pain and other symptoms from their injuries. It’s common to wake up the morning after an accident and feel pain and stiffness caused by your injuries. While it doesn’t necessarily mean you are seriously injured, some latent symptoms can be a sign of serious injuries. Whiplash and some muscle injuries can take days or even weeks before presenting symptoms.
Later Symptoms
If you sought medical treatment and the doctor believed you weren’t injured, this does not mean it is necessarily true. You may feel the symptoms of an injury days or weeks down the road. Headaches, body aches, and other symptoms should be checked out by a doctor even if they occur days after an accident. You may believe that the stress of the accident is the source of your headache, but it could be a sign of a traumatic brain injury such as a concussion. It also takes time to diagnose things like post-concussion syndrome after a car accident. It is important not to self-diagnose your symptoms.
Contact a Tampa Bay Car Accident Attorney
It is always a good idea to seek medical treatment after a car accident. If you’ve been injured in a car accident, you may also want to seek the help of an experienced car accident attorney. The attorneys at Abrahamson & Uiterwyk, have helped thousands of car accident victims and are available to help you. Contact us online or call us at 800-538-4878 to set up your free consultation today.