After you’ve been in a car crash, it may be difficult to determine your next move once the chaos of the incident is over. If you suffered a serious injury, you were likely whisked away in an ambulance from the scene of the accident, but if you weren’t, should you still see a doctor? The short answer is yes. It is important to act quickly after an accident and seek the advice of a medical professional sooner rather than later. Not only is it good for your own health to ensure you weren’t injured, but it could also help you with your insurance claim and with any legal issues down the road.

Your Health

One of the main reasons you should see a doctor immediately after an accident is to ensure your health isn’t at risk. Sometimes injuries take a while to present themselves. Whiplash victims, for example, might not feel pain until a few weeks after the injury occurred. Other injuries, such as internal bleeding or a concussion, may not exhibit visible symptoms immediately, but they could still be seriously damaging, sometimes even life-threatening. If you feel any dizziness, numbness, or other types of discomfort, these could be symptoms of serious issues.

Even if you feel no symptoms, you may still be at risk until a knowledgeable medical professional tells you otherwise. In order to cover your bases, it is always best to see a medical professional as soon as possible after your accident. A medical professional can look for signs the untrained eye might not notice and may conduct tests or scans when necessary. Even if you are perfectly healthy, you can rest easy knowing you were checked out, just in case.

Strengthening Your Insurance Claim

When you sustain injuries, having documented proof that a medical professional diagnosed and treated you will make filing an insurance claim much easier. Like with anything, having it in writing makes it more official and can quicken the filing process. Plus, if you wait longer to see a doctor about your injuries, it could be much more difficult to prove they were the result of the accident.

Depending on your injuries and the type of medical professional you typically see, you may choose to see someone besides a typical doctor. For insurance purposes, keep track of any doctor you see for the injuries related to your accident, including chiropractors, physical therapists, or therapists. Some people suffer PTSD from particularly traumatic motor vehicle accidents, so seeing someone for treatment for this, and other emotional, mental, or anxiety-related issues should be recorded.

Following each medical visit, log the information about the doctor, why you were there, how much you paid, and gather some documentation of your visit from the doctor’s office. Also, be sure to have the contact information for the doctor to pass along to your insurance company, if necessary.

If you were injured in a car accident through no fault of your own, you may have a case. Contact Scott Vicknair, LLC to discuss your personal injury case with our attorneys.