Why should you see a doctor immediately after a crash?

If you find yourself involved in a car crash, one of the things you should plan on is seeing your doctor as soon as possible. Plenty of people make the mistake of refusing an ambulance ride to the emergency room, and others avoid heading to the doctor on their own even when they have pain.

It’s important for you to seek medical care as soon as possible. The reason for this is because you may have injuries that you don’t yet recognize.

When you’re involved in a crash, the adrenaline released by the incident impacts the way your body feels pain. Endorphins run through the body to help you protect yourself, placing you in a fight-or-flight mode. Your body’s goal is to keep you awake and mobile, but that reaction masks pain and dysfunction you would otherwise notice.

Not every symptom appears right away

You should know that not every symptom of an injury appears right away. Brain injuries may start off mild but worsen with a brain bleed or swelling. A neck injury may not hurt at first but it can begin to swell and cause pain hours later.

It’s in your best interests to head for a full medical exam as soon as you can. Medical professionals can look for common, but often overlooked, injuries, such as whiplash, lacerations and herniated discs, that accident victims suffer.

They may run imaging tests and perform physical examinations, too, just to be sure that you’re not dealing with any hidden internal injuries.

Go to the hospital to start a paper trail

After a crash, it’s a good idea to go to the hospital if for no other reason than to start a paper trail. This helps document the pain you have. Insurance companies routinely attack cases where the injured person did not go to the emergency room. You’ll need proof that you went to see a doctor if you intend to make a personal injury claim for injuries you suffered in the collision. Going to the hospital right away helps prove that you were concerned about injuries or potential injuries and sought help as soon as possible.

Don’t delay in seeking medical care. Taking the right steps now to get care could help you minimize your pain and suffering later, and also allow you to get the full compensation you deserve.