Why You Shouldn’t Wait to Seek Medical Attention After a Car Accident

Immediate medical attention will help you start the treatment process and ensure that you don’t have any hidden injuries that could worsen over time.

When you are in a car accident, it can really shake you emotionally and leave you disoriented. Often, when people have minor bruises and scrapes, they end up downplaying their injuries or even ignore them. This can be a very costly mistake. If you are hurt in any way during a car accident, it is critical that you seek medical attention immediately to make sure that you can show causation and receive help with your medical bills.


Why You Should Seek Medical Attention

Typically, the types of injuries that you sustain in a car accident don’t surface right away. If you don’t have yourself examined to ensure that your injuries are minor, if they develop into bigger problems, it will be hard for you to prove that the injuries were a direct cause of your accident since they were not properly documented. If you seek medical attention, then you not only rule out the potential for long-term damage that is left unchecked, but you will also have the documentation necessary to prove the extent of your injuries.

Chiropractic Care After a Car Accident

Car accidents can cause various injuries, including neck pain, back pain, and headaches. In many cases, chiropractic care can help. Here are some of the potential benefits of chiropractic care:

• Relief from neck pain, back pain, and headaches
• Improved mobility and range of motion
• Faster healing time
• Reduced inflammation and swelling

Is Chiropractic Care Enough to Treat Your Injuries?

While chiropractic care can help relieve common car accident injury symptoms and improve function pain, there are cases where it may not be enough to fully address injuries sustained in a car accident. For example, if you have suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI), you may need to see a neurologist for additional care.

Similarly, if you have suffered a serious spinal cord injury, you may need to see a specialist such as an orthopedic surgeon or neurosurgeon. In some cases, surgery may be necessary to correct the damage caused by the car accident.

When to See a Specialist

Generally, after a car accident, it’s recommended to seek emergency care even if you don’t feel injured. Immediate medical attention will help you start the treatment process and ensure that you don’t have any hidden injuries that could worsen over time. It’ll also help document the extent of your injuries which will come in handy if you need to file a claim with your insurance company.

Once you have received emergency care, it’s time to start thinking about seeing a specialist. You should see a specialist as soon as possible if you’re experiencing any of the following symptoms:

• Persistent neck pain for more than two weeks
• Persistent back pain even after chiropractic care
• Headache that persists for more than two weeks
• Difficulty walking or balancing
• Muscle weakness in the arms or legs
• Numbness or tingling in the hands or feet

Who Pays for the Medical Visit

If you are in an accident, the at fault driver’s insurance company is responsible for any medical attention you seek. The medical costs are called economic damages and are covered by most insurances. If you are worried about the price of medical care, even if you aren’t hurt, it will generally be covered by the at-fault driver’s insurance company. If you have medical insurance and your medical insurance pays for your care, then it is possible for them to recoup the cost from the auto insurance company of the at-fault driver.

Will I Owe My Health Insurance Company If They Paid Medical Bills for My Accident?

If your health insurance pays for your accident then, it is possible for them to ask for reimbursement. They can either ask the car accident insurer to reimburse them for their costs or, if you can get a settlement or an award amount in court, the insurance company can ask you to reimburse them for the bills that they paid. If you seek medical attention, it is important that you alert the medical care facility that you were in an accident and let the insurance companies deal with who pays what.

If you are in an accident and think that you were hurt, even if the injury seems minor, do not delay getting the medical attention that you need. If you should need to be compensated for your injuries, you must have the documentation necessary to prove that you were injured in the accident and the severity of your injuries.