Making Lives Better
After Accidents

Go to the doctor after a wreck, even with minor injuries

On Behalf of | Jun 14, 2024 | Auto Accidents

You get into a car accident, and you’re fortunate not to be seriously injured. You’re able to climb out of the wreckage and sit on the side of the road, waiting for emergency response crews to get to the scene.

When those crews arrive, they ask you if you would like medical assistance or if you want to go to the hospital. Because you can’t identify any serious symptoms – like a broken arm – you may decide that you only have minor injuries. With just these bumps and bruises, you’re tempted to skip the trip to the hospital. Is that wise?

Considering internal injuries

It is usually wise to go to the doctor, even if you don’t think the injuries are serious. The problem could be that they are more severe than you realize, especially if you have internal injuries.

For example, perhaps you hit your head and so you have a mild headache. You may assume that the headache is the only symptom and you can treat it yourself. But what if there is bleeding in the tissue around your brain, known as a subdural hematoma, and that’s what’s leading to the headache? If this goes untreated, pressure keeps building up inside your skull and the condition could become very serious. In some cases, people even pass away from these types of injuries.

On top of that, talking to medical professionals helps you obtain medical records of the event. If you need to seek compensation from the driver who caused the crash, having these medical records – along with the police report and other evidence – can be very valuable. When you’re in this position, carefully consider all of your legal options and the steps you’ll need to take moving forward.