What If I Feel Fine After I’ve Been in a Car Accident?

Dean was on his way back home after a late dinner with friends when he was involved in a minor accident. There was some vehicle damage, but Dean didn’t feel so much as a scratch on him. He exchanged insurance information with the other driver and notified the police, and then went on home. He had an important business trip planned for the next day.

But a couple of days later, he developed neck strain and a continuous headache that just wouldn’t go away. He couldn’t take it anymore and eventually had to see a doctor about it.

Why Should You See a Doctor After a Car Accident?

There are many reasons why you should not delay seeing a doctor after you’ve been in an automobile accident, even if you feel perfectly fine at that time. It’s better to err on the side of caution and here are the reasons why:

Medical Reasons

Car accidents can release adrenaline in your body if you’ve been in one. Shock can also cause an altered state where you may not feel pain even if you’ve had an injury in some part of your body including internal injuries.

Injuries such as concussions and other traumatic head injuries, brain injuries, neck or spinal cord injuries or even an internal organ injury including internal bleeding are common in car accidents and may not immediately be obvious.

It is best to have a professional look at you so that they can evaluate your physical condition right away and give you treatment in case you have suffered any of the injuries mentioned above.

If you’ve been injured in the critical areas of the head, spinal cord or neck the more immediate the medical treatment, the better. If you wait for too long, an internal injury can turn fatal.

Psychological Reasons

If you’ve been in a car accident the shock of being in an accident or witnessing other people getting hurt, injured or dead can have a psychological impact. You could be dealing with shock or stress. A doctor can evaluate you and suggest possible treatment options.

There are a lot of formalities you need to take care of like talking to the police, insurance companies, and other parties, post the accident, so it is important that you get yourself medically evaluated and treated.

Insurance

Delay in getting medical treatment for any reason and then being forced to seek it as your condition worsens is common. A condition like a whiplash where the muscle injury takes some time to manifest is a prime example of delayed onset of symptoms where you will need medical care.

If you delay medical treatment further to save time or money, it is possible that your injuries may worsen. In that case, they may need more complicated treatment taking up more of your time and money. Insurance may also deny you coverage if they have a reason to doubt that your injuries were related to the automobile accident. In such cases, you may become responsible for all your medical bills.

Compensation

If you are seeking compensation for damages sustained in the car accident, any delay in seeking medical treatment may complicate things further. Medical records need to show that you’ve been treated within a reasonable amount of time after the accident. If not, the insurance adjusters may argue that the reason for your medical problems weren’t because of the accident. They could also reason that if you could wait so long after the injury for treatment, whether the injury is actually serious. This may reduce the amount of compensation that you are could receive.

Automobile accidents can be major or minor, but even for a minor one don’t judge the condition of your body on outward appearances. Get a thorough check-up after the accident for your peace of mind and to prevent any unpleasant surprises in the future.

If you were involved in a car accident, you may need an accident attorney. The Law Offices of Alvin F. de Levie & Associates are comprised of a team of dedicated attorneys who have decades of experience in representing those who have been involved in accidents. Contact our legal team today for a free consultation at (844) 777-2529 to discuss your insurance and legal options.