After a crash, you may have a variety of details to consider. You may need to contact your insurance company. You may need to reach out to an attorney to help you hold negligent drivers accountable. Your car may be damaged, leaving you unable to travel as easily as you could before the crash.
With so much to consider, it can be easy to ignore your health if you do not believe that you are seriously injured. One of the biggest mistakes that a person can make, however, is to delay treatment in the aftermath of an accident. Why is it so important to get medical attention?
Medical attention can link your injuries to the accident.
Just as reporting a crash to the police creates documentation about the accident, seeking medical attention documents your injuries and their cause. Not documenting your injuries, on the other hand, can make it difficult to show that you were really hurt in the accident. This can lead to insurance companies or liable drivers disputing the cause or severity of your injuries, making it difficult to get the support you need.
Immediate attention can allow you to get the treatment you need.
After an accident, some injuries are obvious. However, damage to the body’s soft tissue or nervous system can take days or even weeks to become apparent. Seeking treatment allows doctors to assess your injuries fully and identify injuries whose symptoms might not appear immediately. It also allows you to get the treatment you need to heal rather than allowing injuries to go untreated and, potentially, grow worse.
Discussing your injuries with a health provider, even if you do not seem seriously injured, is one of the most important steps you can take after a crash.