Broken bones and wounds are only two examples of the many injuries sustained in auto accidents that are instantly apparent. Others aren’t, though. Adrenaline is released by the body in response to stress, and it dulls the pain. The best course of action following an accident is to get medical attention, even if you feel fine.
To learn why some accident victims choose not to seek medical attention as well as what you can do to safeguard your health and legal rights following a collision, contact Delventhal Law Office, LLC.
After a Car Accident, When Should You See a Doctor?
Even if you feel well right away after a car accident, it is advisable to visit a doctor as soon as you can. The shock of an automobile collision not only obscures the severity of any following injuries, but some may take days or weeks to show. This implies that you could not be aware of significant or even fatal damage until you contact a doctor, get an examination, and undergo additional testing.
Going to the doctor, though, can be awkward, difficult, or in some other ways, impractical for some people. Even when they feel like they need care, research suggests that many Americans put off going to the doctor. Each individual has a different set of motives. However, one investigation indicated that the following criteria are frequent, as reported in the Journal of General Internal Medicine:
- Negative views on seeking treatment – In response to their unfavourable perceptions of doctors, hospitals, or the healthcare sector, more than one-third of participants said they felt uncomfortable visiting a doctor.
- No or very little perceived need for medical treatment – More than 12% of participants said they didn’t think they needed medical care. Some people thought their conditions—illnesses or wounds—would get better.
- Traditional hurdles to seeking care – “Traditional barriers” prevented more than half of the participants from seeking care. Approximately 24 percent of these hurdles are related to the high expense of medical care, 16 percent to time constraints, and 8 percent to a lack of health insurance.
No matter what, you should schedule a doctor’s appointment no later than 72 hours following a car accident. Postponing it can be a costly error. You run the risk of not only missing treatment that could save your life but also endangering your legal case.
