You may move your arms and legs or physically touch yourself after a car crash to inspect for signs of injury. If you’ve broken a bone or suffered a cut, you will find those wounds very quickly. However, car crashes are dangerous in part because you don’t always know right away that you got hurt.
Certain kinds of injuries require extensive testing to diagnose, especially if they don’t create immediate symptoms. Drivers involved in high-speed crashes or wrecks that cause massive damage to their vehicle may want to talk to a doctor the same day to rule out the possibility of internal bleeding.
Internal bleeding won’t always stop on its own
Some people have minor internal bleeding that causes nothing more than a large bruise. In more severe cases, internal bleeding can lead to fainting caused by blood loss or difficulty breathing because of the pressure the accumulated blood has put on the lungs. Internal bleeding on the brain can cause permanent injuries to your gray matter that alter everything from your sense of balance to your personality.
The longer you go without care, the more you will continue to bleed. You may reduce your treatment options or increase your recovery time by delaying your diagnosis and care. A doctor needs to diagnose you with internal bleeding to treat you. You may require a transfusion or even surgery to prevent the injury from getting worse.
Especially when you consider how the flood of chemicals after your crash can cover your symptoms of pain, it is very important to have a medical professional evaluate you. If you don’t see a doctor after a crash, it could be days before your symptoms get bad enough to force you to seek medical attention.
A quick diagnosis also means an easier claim process
The medical benefits of faster intervention are far from the only reason that you may want to consider seeing a doctor to check for internal bleeding after a crash. The longer you wait, the harder it will be for you to conclusively prove to the courts that your injury is the result of the crash.
Recognizing your own diagnostic limitations and the risks of going without care or insurance coverage may motivate you to see a doctor just in case after a motor vehicle collision.