Car Accident Injuries
After a car accident, many people don’t notice any initial pain, because anger and adrenaline often mask any injuries.
(If you haven’t heard the story, one of the victims of the Parkland school shootings at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida in 2018 was able to run out of the school, down several flights of steps, on an ankle that had been basically severed by a shot. He should not have been able to run, but adrenaline carried him down those steps, according to a documentary on the incident.)
Because of this, they may fail to notice an injury, including internal injuries, whiplash, a concussion or other muscle or deep-tissue injuries that over time can become more debilitating.
After taking stock of the accident, the first order of business should be to call the police, and if you are able, gathering necessary information including witness information, police officers’ names and photographs.
It is also important to seek medical attention, even if you don’t think you have suffered any injuries.
Why Do I Need a Doctor?
After a car accident, you may think you are fine. Nothing feels broken, and there is no pain that you can notice.
As it happens, you may be fine.
But car accidents are insidious things, and immediately afterwards, you may feel fabulous. But any impact can jostle muscles and other body parts, causing strain and potentially, broken bones.
Symptoms of a serious injury are not immediately visible. But seeing a doctor is important all the same, even if you don’t think you have any injuries.
If you experience any pain, numbness or dizziness and other symptoms, you know that a trip to the doctor is in order.
Don’t Wait
It’s important to see a doctor as soon as possible, primarily because waiting can cause insurance companies to dispute the cause of your injuries. It can also be detrimental to your health if you put off seeking medical help.
Some things to do before seeing your doctor include:
- Take photos of any visible injuries, including bruises, cuts, or scrapes.
- Document any pain or other symptoms.
- After seeing your doctor, keep track of initial medical bills as well as ongoing expenses, which may be considerable if you suffer serious injuries such as those to the back or neck.
Who Should Be Most Concerned?
There are certain members of the population who are at particular danger in a car accident.
- The elderly. Older people are more likely to experience broken bones or internal injuries in the event of a car accident.
- Pregnant women. Pregnancy is an especially serious problem related to a vehicle accident, and there should be no hesitation between seeing a doctor if you’re in an accident while pregnant. Some risk factors for pregnant women include miscarriage, preterm labor from the stress or placental abruption, which occurs when the placenta dislodges from the uterine wall, depriving the infant of important nutrients, leading to death.
- Children. Children have a hard time expressing injury, so it’s important that they see a medical professional who can rule out any injuries. As an important note, if a car seat or booster seat is involved in an accident, it needs to be replaced, because the impact could have damaged the seat, even if it appears to be fine.
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