Accidents involving autos are a common hazard in everyday life. Some people will have to deal with them. Minor accidents are rare. Most property damage is covered by insurance and most people walk away uninjured. Even accidents that appear minor at first can lead to serious consequences if victims don’t seek medical attention or delay seeking treatment.
In the event of an accident, you must seek medical attention immediately. Ideally, this should be done within 72 hours. Here’s why:
- Proper Diagnosis – Your first priority after an auto accident is to ensure your continued health. This includes your loved ones and any family members. Doctors can prescribe diagnostic tests to rule out possible conditions and prescribe the right course of treatment to ensure your health and financial security.
- Delayed Injury Symptoms – The primary reason you should seek medical attention after an injury , even if you only have mild symptoms, is the possibility of delayed injuries symptoms. Some symptoms may not be apparent immediately.
Even if they are minor, the delayed injury symptoms can indicate a potentially life-threatening injury.
- Headache and dizziness. These symptoms can be caused by concussion, whiplash or blood clots, as well as traumatic brain injuries.
- Back pain. This could be caused by whiplash, spinal injury or spinal cord injury.
- Neck or shoulder pain. This could be an indication of whiplash, or spinal injury.
- Tingling and/or numbness. This could be an indication of a herniated disk or spinal cord injury.
- Abdominal pain. This could be an indication of internal bleeding.
- Emotional distress. This could be a sign that you have PTSD, concussion or traumatic brain injuries.
For your potential lawsuit, it is important to have prompt and formal medical records. A doctor’s report can be a strong evidence supporting your case. It will provide proof of the extent of your injuries and your diligence in seeking treatment. Keep copies of any reports or tests you receive from the doctor, and copies of all payments and bills that were received during your treatment.
Summarized from an article by The Dominguez Firm.
