Overview:
- Long story short: Yes, you should still go to the hospital and seek a car accident doctor regardless if you feel pain or not following minor accidents.
- Seeking the help of medical professionals is done for two very good reasons: to check on your personal and mental wellbeing following the accident and to accumulate adequate documentation for your personal injury case.
- As a trauma response, chemicals in your body are being produced in times of extreme stress to brace yourself for any incoming injury.
- Insurance companies may invalidate your personal injury if you don’t seek immediate medical attention following a car accident.
General well-being after minor accidents
Just because you don’t feel any pain during the accident, that does not mean that you are not injured. According to the Reid Physicians Group, our bodies respond to trauma by producing a lot of adrenaline to protect us from the harm that was inflicted on us. To calm ourselves down in times of extreme distress, our bodies will also produce endorphins to aid in this endeavor, further prolonging the pain that we’re bound to feel following the accident.
In a state of shock, our minds and bodies are bracing themselves for any incoming danger that might come following the incident. So while you may not feel pain during minor accidents (or so we think), it’s important to immediately get yourself checked by an accident doctor in the emergency room, urgent care, even the chiropractor’s office regardless of what you’re feeling. This is to make sure that you are truly okay.
When you receive medical treatment, don’t assume that your maladies are not related to the accident. Disclose everything that you’re feeling to the doctor, and let them determine whether the symptoms you’re feeling are due to other underlying factors unrelated to the trauma you just experienced.
For example, it’s common for victims of car accidents to disregard the nausea or the tingling sensations they’re feeling by concluding that it must be a result of another illness (ie: abnormal blood pressure) they may be having. They haven’t considered the possibility that perhaps the whiplash from the accident they were just involved in may have pinched a nerve in their neck, causing them to feel all these symptoms.
Remember:
- Never underestimate the severity of the accident’s impact. Consider the possibility that it may be worse than you think it is.
- Never assume the causes of your symptoms. There’s still a good chance it’s related to the accident.
Documentation after minor accidents
Should you decide to pursue legal action against the perpetrator, having great documentation from a car accident doctor will significantly improve the outcome of your personal injury case. Because of this, you should seek medical attention immediately regardless of how you’re feeling at the moment. This is due to a number of reasons.
Aside from the fact that your endorphins and adrenaline may have been working together at the time of the accident — thereby masking the pain you’ll eventually feel temporarily — your decision to prolong medical treatment could also be used against you by the defendant’s insurance. They could discredit your personal injury claim by arguing that perhaps the injury “wasn’t that bad” because you didn’t seek help from health professionals immediately. Insurance companies want to decrease liability as much as possible in situations like these. To rule out the possibility of the defendant using this rebuttal against you, do yourself a favor and seek help from medical professionals immediately.
In addition, going to a hospital for your car accident injuries, regardless if it’s a “minor car accident,” is one of the most reliable ways you’ll get to tell your side of the story. Let’s face it, no court of law will just take your words seriously even though you’re telling the truth. By seeking medical help, at least you will have the co-sign of a car accident doctor who will be confirming on your behalf the validity and truthfulness of your personal injury, thereby strengthening your case.
Call Omega Law Group
Many people will minimize the severity of the accident because it appears to be a minor one. However, the attorneys at Omega Law Group know that there is more to the story than meets the eye. If you’re drowning in a sea of people casting doubtful sideways glances your way in response to you seeking restitution, we will serve as your lifeboat. Home to the best personal injury attorneys in Los Angeles, the team at Omega Law will stop at nothing to give you the justice that you deserve.
Visit our Contact Us page and schedule a free legal consultation