Every hour in the United States, 510 people suffer some type of auto accident injury.
With numbers like those, you’d imagine that everyone is looking up “doctor for an auto accident.” However, many accidents are relatively minor, and many people make the mistake of skipping a medical exam after a car crash.
What do you think? If you feel fine after a fender-bender, do you really need to seek medical attention? Shouldn’t you only visit an auto accident injury doctor if you have severe injuries?
We’ll answer these critical questions and more, so keep reading!
Common Types Of Auto Accident Injuries
Some auto accidents are significant enough to cause broken bones, visible cuts, and other “obvious” injuries. If an ambulance shows up and finds you in such a state, you’ll quickly be whisked away to the nearest ER. But what if you’re involved in a crash, and you have no visible signs of injury? If you’re able to step out of your car, examine the damage, and exchange information with the other driver, you might think that you’re perfectly fine and don’t need a checkup.
The problem with this belief is that many auto accident injuries don’t appear right away. Adrenaline floods your body in the moments following a collision, which temporarily masks any pain you’d otherwise feel.
Additionally, some injuries may take days or even weeks to manifest any symptoms. Examples include:
- Whiplash
- Spinal injuries
- Concussion
- Internal bleeding
- Nerve compression & pain
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Some of these injuries can become serious – even life-threatening if left undiagnosed and untreated. Others can leave you struggling with pain and limited mobility for months or years after your initial accident.
These are essential factors that create urgency for your personal well-being to be on record. It’s vital to get examined by an injury doctor as soon as possible after your accident.
Why Visit An Auto Accident Injury Doctor?
Your short-term recovery and long-term health are the main reasons to consider getting a proper exam after a car accident. However, these aren’t the only factors to consider.
Here are three additional reasons why you shouldn’t delay seeking medical attention.
The Clock Is Ticking
Why? The state of Tennessee has a 14-day allowance for personal injury claims and benefits. In other words, you only have 14 days from the accident to get a medical exam and file a claim for your injuries.
Don’t make the mistake of thinking you can always visit the doctor later if you start to feel bad. If you begin experiencing symptoms a few weeks after your car accident, you’ll likely get stuck paying all the medical expenses yourself.
Imagine the consequences if you discover an injury that will require ongoing treatment or, even worse, leave you with partial or total disability. In comparison, a medical exam seems like a minor precaution.
Proper Documentation For Insurance Claims
Aside from peace of mind knowing you are (or are not) injured, a medical exam also starts the all-important paperwork trail you’ll need for your claim. The sooner you get checked out after a crash, the stronger your case will be.
Sadly, insurance adjusters are trained to reduce or deny your claim. They’ll look for any hole in your case or any reason to deny a fair settlement for your injuries. For example, if you played football in high school, they’ll try to pin your back pain on that old injury rather than your recent car crash.
An auto accident injury examination provides the evidence you need to build your case. If you delay medical attention by even a few days, the insurance company will try to blame your symptoms on something other than the accident.
Better Compensation For Your Injuries
You have no way of knowing immediately whether your injuries are minor or if you’ll need ongoing treatment in the future. In other words, you don’t know whether a quick visit to a doctor will be the extent of your medical bills.
What happens if you need surgery, physical therapy, or other long-term treatment? What if you’re unable to return to work right away, or you’re left with a disability? What about the mental and emotional distress that often accompanies an accident?
