When you are involved in a car accident, it’s vital to seek medical help even when you believe you are not injured. A physician needs to examine you. Waiting too long to visit the doctor may be dangerous.
Here is why:
You may have hidden injuries
The adrenaline released during a car accident may mask pain. Therefore, you may be injured and not feel pain or notice other symptoms. Accordingly, you may believe you are not injured, or you only sustained minor injuries and, in turn, opt to drive off to other errands.
Doing this may be risky, as it can worsen a hidden injury. For example, internal bleeding can worsen with time, becoming life-threatening. A headache you believe can be cured with an over-the-counter medication may be a symptom of whiplash or a traumatic brain injury (TBI), and so forth.
When a doctor examines you immediately after a car accident, they can identify and treat hidden injuries.
You may have injuries with delayed symptoms
You may have a few symptoms when you sustain some injuries, but the full extent of the injury may not be noticeable until time passes. For instance, soft tissue damage might cause pain, but the pain may become more noticeable as inflammation develops. By this time, the injury may have worsened.
You need to professionally document your injuries
Your medical records will be an integral part of your case if you file a claim against the party that injured you. Having professional records showing you were treated immediately after the accident helps link your injuries to the crash. Taking too long to get medical attention may negatively impact this factor.
If you are involved in a car accident, it’s critical to seek medical attention immediately. You may also want to obtain more information about your options to receive just compensation.