Call NowHow Soon Is Too Soon to Treat Auto Accident Injuries?
If you take away one thing from this blog post, let it be this—it is never too soon to treat auto accident injuries. In fact, if you have been in an auto accident, you will want to seek medical attention as soon as you can.
Our car accident treatment team at Impact Medical Sun City Center outlines what to do after a car accident so you can start healing as soon as possible.
Auto Accident Aftercare
Getting into a car accident is an incredibly stressful experience, whether the accident was your fault or not. If you experience any pain or discomfort in the hours or days following the accident, you will want to visit our clinic to make sure that these aren’t symptoms of something serious.
Remember, though the stress of a car accident can give you a headache, it can also be a sign that you have whiplash or another injury.
Of course, scrapes and bruises are easy to identify, but some injuries are internal and take hours or days to fully develop or exhibit symptoms. But that doesn’t mean that we recommend waiting to see a doctor until then!
Our doctors are specially trained to recognize the early symptoms of car accident injuries and can help you get started on a treatment plan so you can start recovering sooner.
There is no such thing as seeing a doctor too soon after an auto accident, so don’t wait. If you’ve been in an accident, seek treatment ASAP.
The 72-Hour Rule
A general rule of thumb with car accident injuries is to visit a doctor within 72 hours of the accident. Why? Because the symptoms of car accident injuries like whiplash can develop hours or even days after the accident. The reason for this is swelling and inflammation can hide something more serious going on internally.
Common car accident injuries that may not show symptoms right away include:
- Concussions or other traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal trauma like disc herniations
- Soft tissue injuries
- Internal injuries
- Whiplash
- PTSD
Seeking medical treatment early also makes it easier to file an insurance or personal injury claim. If you wait to get treatment until weeks after the accident, it will be more difficult for you to prove that the injuries were sustained during the accident.
To some, 72 hours might seem like such a short amount of time when you have to balance work and family, but your health is important, and you need to take care of yourself first.
What to Do After an Accident in Florida
If you are involved in an auto accident in Florida, stay calm and follow these steps:
- Seek medical attention even if you aren’t exhibiting symptoms or feeling pain. It is better to be safe, and your medical records can help you if you plan to place a claim as well.
- Document the crash scene: Take photographs or video of the accident scene as soon as it is safe to do so. Concentrate on injuries, property damage, skid marks, and the surrounding road conditions. Write down or record how you remember the incident happening.
- Get a police report: Call the police and answer all their questions about the crash with as much detail as possible. Ask for a copy of the report for your record and save all receipts, bills, and correspondence related to the crash or your injuries.
Note: If your injuries are too severe to allow you to take care of the above, don’t worry. You can still get a copy of the police report to help with any injury claims.
Get Compassionate After Accident Care in Sun City Center
If you have been in a car accident, don’t wait. Visit our auto accident care clinic at Impact Medical Sun City Center and our physicians will treat your injuries and get you on the road to recovery.
Call us at (813) 938-5195 or visit our clinic at 139 S Pebble Beach Blvd., Suite 200 in Sun City Center today!
