Traffic accidents occur out of the blue. If you are seriously injured, emergency personnel will likely transport you to the nearest emergency room. Problems arise when you feel fine and don’t want to go the hospital. No one planned this car accident, and you were obviously on your way to a destination when it happened.
However, failing to seek prompt medical attention can affect your ability to receive compensation for your injuries. For that reason alone– go to the hospital and see a doctor.
The rush of adrenaline can mask injuries
During the trauma of the car crash, adrenaline rushes through your body. This may mask the pain of an injury—so right after the collision, you may feel a bit shaken up but otherwise fine.
Within a few days, however, you could be in considerable pain. Soft-tissue injuries, affecting the muscles, ligaments, and tendons, may not become apparent for 48 hours or more after an accident.
Whiplash and fender benders
Of all the soft-tissue injuries, the best known is whiplash. This injury often occurs after low-impact rear-end crashes, affecting the occupants of the vehicle hit from behind.
That is why there is no such thing as a simple fender bender. Most minor collisions do not result in serious, potentially long-term injuries, but some do.
Whiplash receives its name because the impact causes the victim’s head and neck to snap back and forth, like the cracking of a whip. Symptoms of this include:
- Neck pain
- Headache
- Stiffness
- Inability to move the neck without pain
- Range of motion loss
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
- Blurry vision
Medical examination
When you see a doctor after an accident, they will examine you and perform X-rays or other diagnostic tests.
Sometimes, a person who initially does not feel much pain, will find out from test results that they received a bone fracture or concussion or that tissues are becoming inflamed.
If you really cannot go to the doctor immediately, do not wait longer than three days. If your doctor cannot see you, visit an urgent care clinic.
Insurance issues
If you don’t seek prompt medical treatment, the insurance company may allege that your injuries are not as serious as you say, or that they are not due to the car accident.
They may reduce your ability to receive the maximum compensation for your injuries, or deny the claim entirely.
Contact Pittsburgh car accident attorneys
If you were injured in a car accident because of another party’s negligence or recklessness, you need the services of our team of dedicated Pittsburgh car accident attorneys. Call us at any time or contact us online to schedule a free consultation.
Our attorneys have recovered more than $1 billion in settlements and verdicts for clients. Because we work on a contingency basis, there is no fee unless we win.
