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Why you should see a doctor after a car crash

After a car crash, there are many things that will take up your time. You may have to make arrangements to miss work, get a replacement vehicle, arrange new transportation for your family, and deal with the shock of what may have been a traumatic event. If you only have minor aches and pains, bumps and bruises, you may be tempted to not seek medical attention.

Unfortunately, if those minor aches and pains turn out to be something much worse down the line, not seeking medical care quickly may end up to be a costly decision.

The general rule is that waiting longer than three days (72 hours) to seek medical care after a car crash is risky. The longer you wait, the easier it will be for the insurance company to claim that your injuries weren’t caused by the accident. Without a timely medical diagnosis, you’ll have a weaker case to recover the damages and compensation that is rightfully yours.

If you’ve been in a car crash because of the fault of another party, give us a call at 845-600-0000 for a free consultation. Our experienced legal team in Kingston, NY and Poughkeepsie, NY can help guide you through the complicated process of recovering damages for your injuries and suffering. 

Here are some things to keep in mind about seeking medical care after your accident:

Soft tissue injuries may take days or weeks to cause symptoms

Some of the most common soft tissue injuries include:

  • Whiplash
  • Rotator cuff 
  • Brachial plexus lesion 
  • Bursitis
  • Hyperextension of joints

Injuries like these may take weeks to develop symptoms; but at that point, it will be harder to prove that the car crash caused the injury. Even if you have mild pain or discomfort, a physician can conduct a CT scan or MRI to prove that your body suffered injury and to begin treatment.

Traumatic brain injuries can have subtle symptoms

Traumatic brain injuries (also known as TBIs) can often start out with very slight symptoms. After a car crash, you may experience short-term memory loss, drowsiness, dizziness, nausea or vomiting, or an inability to concentrate. It’s possible that these symptoms are nothing, but the only way to be sure is to seek medical attention right away.

Go to an emergency room or urgent care center

It might be difficult to get in with your general practitioner after an auto accident, but you may be able to get to an emergency room or urgent care center quickly. The benefit is that they may have a greater familiarity with common car crash injuries.

Do what the doctor says

It will harm your case if you don’t follow the doctor’s orders. Attending physical therapy, taking off from work, or any other instructions that the doctor provides will not only help you recover from your injuries, but you will be able to prove to the insurance company and courts that you made every effort to recover.

Keep a pain and trauma journal 

While you’re recovering from your injuries, keep track of what time of day your pain increases or subsides, and what seems to cause the pain to flare up. If you are suffering from a loss of enjoyment of life, or are experiencing trauma from your injuries, it may not only be therapeutic but helpful to your case to have a record of what you’re feeling.