Should I See a Doctor After a Car Accident?

If you are resistant to seeking medical treatment, you are not alone. Even after a car accident, it is commonplace for some people to avoid seeing a doctor. Unfortunately, this could be risky on several levels.

First and foremost, the soft tissue injuries that are common in collisions are not always detectable. In some cases, a neck injury, like whiplash, will only manifest hours or even days later. Any delay in seeking treatment could worsen them and put your recovery at risk.

There are also potential consequences for a personal injury claim. If your accident resulted from another driver’s negligence– you could do substantial harm to your chance of recovery if you fail to seek medical treatment.

A skilled Pittsburgh personal injury attorney could advise you not only on your legal claim but also ensure you seek the medical treatment you need.

The risk of hidden injuries

The risk of hidden injuries after a motor vehicle accident cannot be overstated. In a minor crash, it may not be necessary to seek medical treatment. However, exercising an abundance of caution, cannot hurt either. It is always worth seeking treatment, even following a low-speed collision.

When in doubt, a Pittsburgh personal injury lawyer could guide you on this issue.

The potential for minor pain to escalate is significant. This is thanks to the way the human body deals with stress and trauma. Your body releases adrenalin during times of high stress, which can mask the feeling of pain or injury for hours. It is not uncommon to leave an accident with minor soreness, only to discover you are wracked with pain the next day.

As mentioned earlier, the best example of this is whiplash. It occurs when the head violently snaps back and forth and can take weeks to materialize fully. Over time, the swelling, loss of movement, and pain become overwhelming. These injuries can be difficult to spot early on, as an x-ray will not reveal soft tissue damage.

Traumatic brain injuries are another common example. They involve a sudden and severe impact to the skull. In many cases, brain trauma can be substantial despite the injured person’s head showing no outward signs of it. Traumatic brain injuries can result in a concussion, bleeding on the brain, or worse.

They can result in a person being disoriented or losing short-term memory. More severe injuries could cause a person to be unable to stay awake or keep their balance. Given the potentially fatal nature of these injuries, always seek medical treatment after an impact to the head.

How your injury claim could be affected

While your health and safety should be your foremost concern, you may also have a personal injury claim to consider. If you fail to seek immediate medical treatment after a crash, it could limit the chances to obtaining compensation from the at-fault driver.

When you go to the doctor, they need to keep careful records of your condition and the methods used to treat it. This documentation could eventually play an important role in a personal injury case.

Without medical records and bills to rely on, it could be difficult to establish the severity of your injuries. It could also make it challenging to prove to a jury how much your injuries are worth.

The value of an experienced injury attorney

When you work with us, you can rest easy that your personal injury claim is in experienced hands. We can work directly with your medical providers to compile your records, ensuring we have everything needed to build a winning claim.

To let a Pittsburgh car accident lawyer handle the stress of your personal injury claim schedule a free consultation with us today.