Why you should never delay medical attention after a crash

March 17, 2020

You don’t have any noticeable injuries, other than a few bumps and bruises, so you carry on with your day after the crash scene has been cleared. Why bother seeing a doctor if you don’t feel injured?

The danger in delaying medical attention

Some of the most common crash-related injuries aren’t immediately noticeable. If you were rear-ended while stopped in traffic, you may not feel any physical pain, but you could have sustained whiplash.

The impact of a rear-end collision can cause your neck to jerk backward and forward in a whip-like motion. This damages the soft tissue in the neck, causing stiffness and pain in the neck, shoulders, and upper back. People who sustain whiplash may also experience dizziness, fatigue, headaches, tingling in the limbs, disorientation, and irritability. It can take days for symptoms to appear.

If you suffered a blow to the head during a crash, you’re at risk of sustaining a concussion. A concussion is a traumatic brain injury that can be either mild or severe. Symptoms may not appear for 7-10 days.

Those who sustain a concussion after a car accident may experience dizziness, frequent tiredness, mood changes, headaches, delayed reaction time, sleep disturbances, and sensitivity to light. These symptoms may persist for several months.

How will a medical evaluation help me?

Your doctor can identify these injuries before they worsen and provide treatment. Furthermore, if someone else’s negligence caused your crash, you will want to pursue a car accident claim.

Having a medical evaluation on record legitimizes the extent of your injuries. When the at-fault driver’s insurance company attempts to downplay your claim, you have documentation of your injury.

After you have met with your doctor, you should consult with an experienced car accident attorney as soon as possible. Do not discuss any details about your crash or medical evaluation with the at-fault driver’s insurance company. Let the Chicago attorneys at Coplan + Crane do the talking.

Our legal team has experience handling complex car accident cases and taking on stubborn insurance companies. Our case results prove it. Contact us online to schedule your free case evaluation.