Menu
December 5th, 2022
If you were involved in a car crash, you should see a doctor as soon as possible. In the moments immediately after a car accident, your adrenaline is pumping, and you might not realize you were hurt. But you could have suffered severe injuries, and a doctor will review your medical condition and document any injuries you sustained. And if the injuries take a few days to appear, you can return to the doctor for additional treatment.
See a Doctor After a Car Crash as a Precautionary Measure
Even if you think you were not hurt, you should still see a doctor as a precautionary measure. Often, the injuries people suffer in a car crash are not immediately apparent, so you should see a doctor as soon as possible after a car crash.
Many people do not experience pain or discomfort immediately after a car accident and assume they were not hurt. But hours or even days after the car accident, after the adrenaline rush has subsided, they begin to experience pain and discomfort from injuries caused by the car accident.
Medical Records Help Prove Your Injuries Were Caused by the Car Accident
If you decide to pursue a personal injury claim after a car accident, your medical records will help prove that your injuries were caused by the car accident. Your doctor will document your medical condition and any injuries you sustained. These medical records will prove that you were hurt in the car accident and that additional medical treatment was necessary and related to your injuries. You also need to protect your health and well-being, and seeking medical treatment is a critical step in this process.
If you do not see a doctor immediately after a car accident, the insurance company may assume you were not hurt. Insurance companies may try to minimize the severity of a person’s injuries to justify a lower settlement. The more time you go without seeing a doctor, the more difficult it will be to establish a link between your injuries and the car accident.
Even if you believe your injuries were minor, you should try to see a doctor within days of an accident. A doctor can diagnose any injuries you suffered and help establish that your injuries were caused by the car accident and not some other cause.
Common Injuries After a Car Crash
It can be difficult to think clearly after a car crash, and many people wonder if they should see a doctor. Many injuries are not immediately apparent but can lead to major complications. Here are common injuries people experience after a car accident and symptoms they should be aware of.
Headache
Headaches are common after a car accident. Headaches may go away by themselves or with the help of over-the-counter pain medications. But sometimes, headaches are a sign of a more serious medical condition like a blood clot or a traumatic brain injury (TBI). If you experience headaches after a car accident, you see a doctor to rule out more serious injuries.
TBI can seriously impact your memory, ability to move, and cognitive ability. It can lead to loss of consciousness, loss of perceptive understanding, difficulty speaking, and problems with memory. Severe TBI can also make it difficult to maintain gainful employment.
Neck and Back Pain
Neck and back pain is common after a car accident. The forces involved in a car crash cause the head to be violently thrown forward and backward, which causes strain and injury to the neck and back. These forces can result in serious injuries such as muscle sprains and strains, whiplash, herniated discs, or spinal injury. Because back injuries can be debilitating, it is important to seek medical attention as quickly as possible after a car accident.
Abdominal Pain
If you experience abdominal pain after a car accident, you might think it is just sore muscles. But abdominal pain can be a symptom of something more serious, like damage to internal organs and internal bleeding. If left untreated, internal bleeding can become life-threatening. If you experience abdominal pain after a car crash, you should see a doctor to diagnose your condition.
PTSD
In addition to physical injuries, many people experience psychological injuries after a car crash. These mental and emotional conditions, commonly known as PTSD, can be debilitating. If you experience PTSD after a car accident, your doctor might recommend cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or supportive psychotherapy to help you explore your emotions and identify effective coping strategies after a car accident.
Just because you feel fine immediately after a car accident does not mean that you have avoided any injuries. And because injuries suffered in a car accident can be severe, you should always see a doctor after a car accident. In addition, seeing a doctor will help prove the nature, extent, and cause of your injuries if you decide to pursue compensation for your injuries.
Contact the Michigan Personal Injury Lawyers at Muth Law After a Car Accident
If you were injured in a Michigan car accident, you might be entitled to financial compensation. For more than 35 years, the personal injury lawyers at Muth Law have been representing people who were hurt in car accidents. We have the experience, resources, and expertise to evaluate your case and fight for the compensation you deserve.
We will collect the evidence necessary to prove your claim and will work to protect your rights and maximize your financial compensation.
Based in Ann Arbor, Muth Law proudly represents people in Ypsilanti, Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County, and throughout Michigan. We handle car accident injury cases on a contingency fee, which means you will never pay us a fee unless we recover money for you.
To learn more, contact Muth Law to schedule a confidential, no-cost consultation to discuss your situation and how we can help. Call us anytime at 734-481-8800, email info@muthlawpc.com, or complete our online form.
You may also find theses articles interesting:
Categories: Auto Accidents
