The Importance of Seeking Medical Care Immediately After an Accident

Friday, February 5, 2016

The Importance of Seeking Medical Care Immediately After an Accident

Written by Malman Law, reviewed by Steve J. Malman.

Car accidents almost always cause some sort of injury. Even if they are not readily seen, you could have soft tissue injuries or even internal bleeding that can only be seen with modern diagnostic tests. Even a minor fender bender can lead to accidents that you may not be aware of and what may appear minor at first can become debilitating later on.

Car Accidents Wreak Havoc on the Body

A motor vehicle accident, from a physiological perspective, is extremely stressful on the body. It is not uncommon for accident victims to become injured and then go about their daily lives without realizing their injuries. But, one day they will wake up and feel excruciating pain. Also, accidents naturally encourage the body’s response to release endorphins, so your body may block pain for several hours to several days.

Just because you do not feel your injuries does not mean you shouldn’t seek medical treatment right away. The longer you wait, the more difficult it may become to get compensation or even coverage for the injuries you sustained.

Soft Tissue Injuries

Soft tissue injuries are one of the more common types that may not show symptoms immediately after the accident. These involve the muscles, tendons and ligaments in your neck and shoulders. In a car accident, even at low speeds, there is enough force to whip the body, which causes stress and injury to soft tissues.

Soft tissue injuries will result in pain, swelling and reduced mobility. But, these symptoms can take several days to weeks to appear. Unfortunately, they are not visible on x-rays either, which makes them challenging to diagnose – let alone prove in court. By getting proper medical treatment before the first sign of pain, you may be able to prove your injuries are legitimate.

Concussions

Concussions can also occur at low speeds and you may not be aware of the injury right away. If your head is violently jolted in an accident, you could suffer from a concussion. Concussions are serious and without proper treatment could lead to more serious injuries. Some symptoms you may experience if you have sustained a concussion include:

  • Clouded thinking
  • Blurred vision
  • Headaches
  • Memory difficulties
  • Inability to concentrate
  • Lack of energy or severe fatigue
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Dizzy spells
  • Difficulty sleeping

See a Doctor, but Don’t Settle

After an accident, see a doctor right away. Let the doctor know that you have been in an auto accident and discuss any symptoms you are experiencing at that moment. Then, during follow up appointments you can address new symptoms as they arise. A doctor can rule out serious injuries and then assist you with follow up treatment for other injuries as they appear.

Regardless of whether you seek immediate medical treatment, do not settle with insurers until you have had a chance to speak with an attorney. An attorney can help better estimate your current costs as well as future costs. There will be things to address like potentially lost wages, medical treatment costs in the future, pain and suffering, etc.
If you have been in a car accident, after you seek medical treatment contact Malman Law in Chicago. We offer free initial consultations. Get started by calling us at 888-751-2297 or fill out an online contact form with your questions.

Steve Malman

Malman Law’s founder Attorney Steven Malman has over 30 years of experience handling personal injury, nursing home, medical malpractice, truck accidents, car accidents, premises liability, construction, and workers’ compensation cases in Chicago, IL.

Years of experience: +30 years
Illinois Registration Status: Active and authorized to practice law—Last Registered Year: 2024

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