After a car accident, your top priority should be to visit a doctor and recover from your injuries. Since no two accidents or victims are alike, your injuries and recovery process is likely to be different than another individual who suffers a similar crash.
It is important to keep in mind that sometimes, it takes days, months, and even years for injuries to appear. If you’d like to recover compensation for these injuries, there are certain things you need to do. Read on to learn what you should do if your serious injuries after a car accident are not immediately obvious.
If you sustain injuries in a car accident that was caused by another driver’s negligence, it is in your best interest to reach out to our highly skilled Detroit car accident lawyers at Davis Injury Lawyers, PLLC.
Why Injuries Don’t Always Show Immediately
A car accident is an extremely stressful event. When you undergo a stressful event, your body generates adrenaline and endorphins, which can conceal the immediate appearance of injuries. In addition, your body heals by rebuilding tissue and attacking infection.
This response may lead to swelling and inflammation that may sometimes arise after an injury occurs. In addition, a crash may leave you emotional and unable to think properly. You may not realize how much pain you’re in until long after the accident occurred.
It may take weeks or months for you to notice injuries after a crash, especially if you are facing one of these types of injuries:
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- Soft tissue injuries: Strains, sprains, and tears to the muscles, tendons, and ligaments are all examples of soft tissue injuries. The pain, swelling, and limited mobility they cause often take days or weeks to arise. They cannot be seen on x-rays and are therefore a challenge to diagnose.
- Whiplash: One of the most common types of soft tissue injuries is whiplash. Whiplash is a neck injury that occurs when the head is abruptly jerked forward and backwards. Its symptoms are neck stiffness and pain, shoulder pain, blurred vision, and ringing in the ears and
usually take a few days to make their debut.
- Traumatic brain injuries: Traumatic brain injuries are caused by a jolt to the head. Although it can take weeks or months for its symptoms to emerge, these injuries can hinder a victim’s reasoning, memory, and make it difficult for them to live a high quality of life.
The Importance of Seeking Medical Treatment After a Crash
Even if you think you’re fine or your injury is no big deal, visiting a doctor after a car accident is imperative. If you don’t seek medical treatment after a crash, you may hurt your personal injury claim and not be able to receive the fair and full compensation you may deserve. Here are a few reasons you should see a doctor after a crash:
- A doctor is more qualified to determine whether or not you’re injured and identify the severity of any injuries you may have sustained. If you have serious injuries that are not immediately apparent, you could prevent a life-threatening situation by seeing a doctor right away.
- By visiting a doctor, you can document your medical state and improve your compensation claim.
- If you wait days or weeks to see a doctor or avoid doing so, the liable party’s insurance company may argue that the crash didn’t cause your injuries or your injuries aren’t as serious as you claim they are.
Contact Davis Injury Lawyers, PLLC
Serious injuries after a car accident may take some time to appear. Therefore, it’s important that you see a doctor and contact our firm right after a car crash. Call us at (313) 818-3238 to ensure your rights are protected.