A motor vehicle collision can be a very disruptive experience. The people in the vehicles have to drastically alter their plans for the day. It may take some time for police officers to arrive and put together a crash report. Drivers may also need to wait at the scene for a tow truck to collect their vehicle.
After spending an hour or more on the side of the road, many people want to move on with their days. In their eagerness, they might overlook one of the most important steps to take after a motor vehicle collision. Even people without immediately visible injuries typically see health care professionals after their involvement in a motor vehicle collision.
Many people assume they don’t need to see a doctor, only to regret that decision later. What benefits can people derive from seeing a doctor shortly after a car wreck?
Timely interventions
There are numerous significant injuries possible after a car crash that may not cause immediate symptoms. People who sustain traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), for example, could go days or possibly even weeks without realizing they have a serious injury. However, as the inflammation or bleeding inside the skull continues, they may develop new or more severe symptoms. Eventually, those symptoms may become unignorable.
If people with internal injuries see a doctor shortly after a crash, the doctor may be able to diagnose an injury that may otherwise go undetected for weeks. The sooner people undergo care for these internal injuries, the better their chances of making a full recovery.
Fewer compensation complications
Some people think that they can keep their costs low by choosing to bypass medical evaluation after a crash. They may not realize that delays in diagnosis might actually create more financial pressure for the injured person. Significant gaps between the initial injury and diagnosis of the injured person can raise questions about the actual origins of their injuries. The longer the gap, the harder it may be to pursue appropriate compensation.
In some cases, people may have already settled their insurance claims by the time they realize they have internal injuries. People who see doctors shortly after rashes can more readily establish a connection between the collision and their diagnosis. They may have a slightly easier time requesting compensation from the party at fault for the wreck.
Making the time to see a physician after a car crash can be a smart choice. People dealing with the aftermath of a recent wreck may need help looking into their rights and holding the appropriate party accountable for their losses as well, and that’s okay.
