If you have been in a car accident or any other type of serious accident, it is essential that you seek medical attention immediately. According to our orthopedic surgeons, it is important to do this irrespective of how strong or mild the pain is or whether you are experiencing any other symptoms at the time.

Legal Reasons

Every year, there are more than 10 million traffic accidents in the United States alone. Sadly, if you do not seek medical attention immediately or shortly after an accident, the insurance companies may assume that you were not injured in the first place and that you are simply faking your injuries.

In cases where your injuries require physiotherapy or other rehabilitation services, these may be reimbursed by your insurance company if they believe that your injuries were indeed caused by the accident. From a legal point of view, it is important that you receive a diagnosis, proper care and documentation of that care as soon as possible.

Medical Reasons

There are several medical reasons for why you should see a doctor immediately after an accident even if you feel fine at the time or are only experiencing very mild pain or discomfort. First of all, your adrenaline is pumping immediately after an accident, and this may prevent you from feeling any pain at the time. Moreover, some injuries may not become evident until several hours or even days later.

Depending on the type of accident, the speed at which it occurred, the point of impact and whether seat belts or other protective equipment was used, numerous different types of injuries can ensue. Some of the most common injuries in car accidents include soft tissue injuries, whiplash, muscle sprains, torn ligaments and disc injuries, which are associated with both upper and lower back pain as well as neck pain. In addition, fractured bones are relatively common, and these may require orthopedic surgery.

Head injuries also commonly occur, and it is particularly important to have these examined promptly. Concussions may not be associated with any immediate symptoms other than some mild dizziness but can result in long-term problems if not treated appropriately. Similarly, intracranial bleeding or swelling may not be obvious at first but can cause severe symptoms later on.

Even if it turns out that you did not sustain any severe injury, going to the hospital will help ease your mind. On the other hand, if you are in fact injured, seeing a doctor or orthopedic trauma specialist can help you not only in dealing with your insurance company, but also in getting the treatment you need as early as possible.