Should You Visit a Doctor After a Car Accident?

If you were in a car accident, your top priority should always be to ensure your own health and safety. You may have heard that you should visit a medical professional within 14 days of the accident, but is that really true? This guide will cover everything you need to know about maintaining your health after a car accident.

Right After the Accident

First things first, there are some situations where 14 days is far too long after the accident to get checked out. If you have any reason at all to suspect you may be injured, seek out medical help immediately. Even if it seems like a very minor injury, you should always go to the hospital immediately. The adrenaline of the accident may mask the pain and make a serious injury seem minor. Likewise, some serious injuries do not have many outward signs. So the safest thing to do is to go straight to the hospital for any kind of injury whatsoever. You should call 911 as soon as you notice that something is wrong.

The Following 14 Days

If you seem to be unharmed after the accident, you should still be very careful in the following days. Many people suggest that everyone who was involved in an accident should always visit a doctor within 14 days, even if there are no signs of injury. This is widely considered to be good advice, although if you pay attention to your body, you may be alright skipping this precaution.

Every day after the accident, you should do a self-check. Some injuries take a few days to present themselves, so you should take this examination seriously. If you notice anything wrong, immediately go to the hospital. Do not try to wait and see if it will get better on its own. Additionally, if you notice any changes, even if they do not seem to be getting worse necessarily, you should also speak to a medical professional.

You should always err on the safe side after an accident. Even something as minor as aches or soreness might be a sign of something more serious. In particular, bruising is a deceptively minor symptom that you should always have checked out. The only time you should avoid going to the doctor entirely is if you have absolutely no symptoms whatsoever. Even then, however, if you can afford the time and money of a doctor’s visit, it is wise to go. Speaking to a Car Accident Lawyer Central can reveal whether you can have your medical bills paid for by the responsible party.