Why You Should Still See a Doctor After a Minor Auto Accident

You should always seek medical attention following an accident, even if you don’t feel any pain. Why? Because even during a minor accident or fender bender, injuries such as whiplash and contusions can still occur, and their symptoms may not manifest immediately. 

Here at Impact Med Sun City Center, we recommend getting checked by a primary care physician or a chiropractor, after a car accident no matter how minor the accident was. 

Keep reading to learn why it is important to seek medical attention following an accident. 

Your Body’s Response to a Car Accident 

Even a minor accident can produce forces that result in shock and injury to the body. Our bodies are not designed to endure that kind of impact, and injuries can be sustained even in a low-speed car accident that causes little or no damage to the vehicles involved. 

This is because people rarely see an impact coming before the accident occurs, resulting in no time to prepare to brace for impact. This means that even during a fender bender, many accident victims suffer from whiplash or other soft tissue injuries due to the violent jerking of the neck and head on impact. 

What Symptoms Might Manifest? 

One of the biggest mistakes that accident victims make is assuming that what they feel following an accident is too minor for medical care or just a response to the stress of the accident.

Headaches, body aches, and other symptoms while not easy to self-diagnose, might be caused by stress, but they might also be the sign of a more serious injury. You could have an undiagnosed concussion, brain injury, or whiplash. 

Generally, the most common types of injuries that show up following an accident are soft tissue injuries, concussions, and back injuries yet their symptoms might not manifest immediately. 

Keep Reading> 6 Reasons You Should See a Chiropractor After a Crash

Treat Your Injuries Proactively 

After an accident as a direct response to the trauma of a crash, adrenaline courses through your body and often masks any pain or severe injuries that may have occurred. 

It is common that in the days or weeks following an accident, your pain symptoms may begin to appear and become increasingly worse if they are left untreated. 

No matter the severity of injury or presence of pain symptoms, your number one priority should be to visit a doctor.

The Importance of Medical Records Following an Accident 

If you plan to litigate following an accident, you need valid records that document your injuries and costs following the accident. Accident reports, medical records, and police reports can all help your claims process and litigation. 

This is why it is important to seek medical care as soon as possible following an accident. If weeks go by, and you still have not received medical treatment, it can be more difficult to prove that the injuries stemmed from your accident. 

Therefore, if you want to receive compensation for your pain and suffering and medical bills, we cannot stress the importance of seeking medical treatment to treat your injuries after an accident—even if you don’t feel pain yet. 

Learn more about accident injuries> Common Auto Accident Injuries & How They’re Treated 

Post-Accident Care and Treatment 

Following a car accident, seek medical attention even if symptoms of pain have yet to manifest. Our doctors and chiropractors at Impact Med Sun City Center are in the best position to determine whether you sustained injuries in the accident and will help you begin to heal and recover. 

After an accident, don’t wait. Call Impact Med Sun City Center for post-accident treatment today; 813-938-5195!