Have you recently been involved in a motor vehicle accident? There are hundreds of people who are involved in car crashes every day. Immediately after a motor vehicle accident, you’ll probably check to make sure you haven’t gotten hurt. Then, if you don’t feel pain anywhere, you might decide to move on with your life. Unfortunately, that is not correct, and you should, instead, see a medical professional following a motor vehicle accident, regardless of the severity of accident you’ve been involved in.
Immediately following a car crash, there will be a lot of adrenaline flowing through your system. This adrenaline is enough to mask serious injuries. If you overlook injuries, they might get worse, prolonging the treatment process. If you are wondering when to see a doctor after an accident, the answer is you should always see a doctor following a motor vehicle collision. That way, the doctor can identify any injuries you might have suffered to develop a treatment plan as quickly as possible.
Common Injuries in a Car Accident
There are a few examples of common injuries you might sustain in a motor vehicle accident. Some of the most common injuries you might suffer include:
- Whiplash: This is one of the most common injuries people sustain in a motor vehicle accident. This injury takes place when your neck moves from side to side or back and forth quickly. This can cause a sprain of the upper cervical ligament, leading to neck stiffness and soreness.
- Brain Injuries: If you strike your head on the steering wheel or dashboard, you may suffer a traumatic brain injury. These injuries vary widely in terms of their scope and severity. Some of the most common examples include concussions, cerebral contusions, and even skull fractures.
- Abdominal Injuries: Abdominal injuries are also common in motor vehicle accidents. Even though you wear a seatbelt, this may not be enough to protect your abdomen from harm. You might suffer blunt force trauma to your abdomen, or you may suffer a penetrating injury.
- Knee Injuries: Knee injuries can also take place in a motor vehicle accident. If your legs move forward a little bit, you may strike your knee on the dashboard. This can lead to a PCL sprain, which might require surgery.
Not everyone is going to suffer these types of injuries in a motor vehicle accident, but you still need to see a doctor who can diagnose and treat them appropriately. Why is it important to see a doctor as quickly as possible following a motor vehicle accident?
Make Sure Important Injuries Are Not Overlooked
If you have suffered injuries in a motor vehicle accident, you need to get them treated as quickly as possible. That way, you have a favorable prognosis. Seeing a doctor after an accident is important for making sure these injuries are not overlooked.
You will have a lot of adrenaline flowing through your body following a collision. As a result, you may not feel discomfort even if you have suffered an injury. Some injuries do not reveal symptoms immediately, so you need to make sure these injuries are not overlooked. If these injuries are missed, it might be more difficult for you to make a complete recovery.
Avoid Potential Complications
You also need to avoid potential complications with serious injuries. If your injuries are not diagnosed by a medical professional, you might experience future complications. For example, you may have some mild abdominal pain after an accident, but does this really mean you need to go to a doctor?
There is a chance that your stomach pain might resolve on its own, but there is also a chance that your stomach pain could be an indication of a more serious injury. For example, abdominal pain following a motor vehicle accident might indicate you have internal bleeding. This is a medical emergency, and it needs to be treated as quickly as possible. If you don’t go to a doctor immediately after an accident, this might be overlooked, increasing your chances of developing a serious complication.
Recover as Quickly as Possible
Furthermore, you want to recover as quickly as possible. The fastest way to recover is to see a doctor who can help you. You need to work with a healthcare professional who can help you develop a comprehensive treatment plan. Even if you go to the emergency room after an accident, you still need to follow up with your primary care doctor or an accident doctor. An emergency room doctor might stabilize you, but you need to complete the recovery process by developing a comprehensive plan. If you want to improve your prognosis, you should see a doctor following a car accident.
Medical Records Are Important for Legal Action
Finally, you might need to take legal action following a motor vehicle accident as well. Regardless of whether you plan on going through an insurance company or filing a lawsuit against the other driver, you need to have medical records. If the accident is not your fault, then you should not have to bear the burden of medical expenses on your own. A personal injury attorney can help you seek damages on your behalf; however, you need to have medical records to show what happened to you.
The value of the potential personal injury claim is going to be dictated by the severity of your injuries. The worse your injuries are, the more money you might recover. If you do not go to a doctor following a motor vehicle accident, there won’t be a medical record of your injuries. This might make it harder for you to seek compensation following a car accident.
If you think you might pursue legal action following a motor vehicle accident, you need to go to the doctor immediately. That way, there is a paper trail providing evidence of your injuries.
Make an Appointment with Doctor Wagner Following a Car Accident
If you have been involved in a motor vehicle accident, it is important to make an appointment with a doctor as quickly as possible. The sooner your injuries are diagnosed, the faster they can be treated. This means you can recover more quickly as well. If you are looking for a local healthcare professional who can help you, then you should rely on Dr. Wagner. We always have appointments available, and it would be our pleasure to help you following a motor vehicle accident. Contact us today to make an appointment with a member of our team!