Minor Car Accidents: Why Seeking Medical Care Matters

Updated on May 13, 2020

You’ve just been in a car accident. You’re still reeling from shock, and you’re worried about the practical and financial challenges that may lie ahead. Despite your vehicle’s damage, you seem perfectly fine and don’t feel any pain. Why then should you seek medical attention? That is a common dilemma that many people who get involved in minor car accidents face. 

Minor Car Accidents: Why Seeking Medical Care Matters

Injuries or any form of trauma doesn’t always show up immediately after an accident. No matter how you feel after an accident, it’s highly advisable to see a doctor. Here’s why:

Diagnose Hidden Injuries

When you’re involved in a car accident, your adrenaline kicks in fast. While this provides the energy you need to deal with a dangerous situation, it can also delay the onset of pain from an injury. It’s common to get an injury and don’t feel the pain until hours or days later. Seeing a doctor will help you get the necessary tests and diagnosis to identify any potential injuries sustained. 

According to Hasner Law, a leading Atlanta injury law firm, rear-end accidents that happen at low speed are scenarios where most victims assume that they’re okay because they don’t feel hurt. But in some cases, such accidents cause neck and back injuries that could need extended care and medical attention. That’s why seeking medical attention immediately is vital, so you don’t miss such injuries. 

Avoid the Risk of a Concussion

Apart from injuries like bruises, broken bones, and scrapes that you could get in a minor car accident, there’s also the risk of a concussion or head trauma. Concussions are common in minor car injuries and temporarily affect the brain, causing confusion and potential problems with speech, memory, balance, and vision. You may seem fine at first, but show symptoms after a few hours or even days. 

Seeing a doctor is crucial, so you can be checked for any signs of a concussion and get the treatment you need to avoid serious problems. It’s hard to recognize the symptoms on your own. First responders may also miss the signs. The best option you have after being involved in a minor car accident is to seek medical attention to make sure your brain is safe.

Vital Legal Documentation

Seeking a doctor’s diagnosis after an accident is not only crucial for your wellbeing and treatment but also plays a significant role when it comes to filing a personal injury claim. If your injuries were caused by someone else’s negligence, seeking medical care will help you get a medical report that proves you were injured. 

A correct medical diagnosis and report are vital legal documents in a personal injury case. Medical bills resulting from your injuries could ruin your financial security, and time away from work as you recover may mean losing your source of income. With documents to prove your injuries, you can work with a personal injury lawyer to fight for the compensation you deserve. 

Adds To Your Medical History

Failing to seek medical care because you think that your injuries will heal on their own is an informed decision. Even a minor injury that fails to recover fully can cause more problems in years to come. For instance, back pain that comes and goes after a minor accident could lead to chronic back pain. If your future doctor doesn’t know about the accident and the resulting injuries, treating long-term issues could be a problem. 

Seeking medical care ensures that any strains, sprains, concussions, or other injuries are well documented. That gives your doctors a more comprehensive medical history in the future. The more information that a doctor has, the better they can advise on proper treatment. 

+ posts

Throughout the year, our writers feature fresh, in-depth, and relevant information for our audience of 40,000+ healthcare leaders and professionals. As a healthcare business publication, we cover and cherish our relationship with the entire health care industry including administrators, nurses, physicians, physical therapists, pharmacists, and more. We cover a broad spectrum from hospitals to medical offices to outpatient services to eye surgery centers to university settings. We focus on rehabilitation, nursing homes, home care, hospice as well as men’s health, women’s heath, and pediatrics.