Car accidents can be tragic, whether you come out of them scarred or not. Many times, when the injury is minor, people dismiss going to see a doctor since they believe that they are okay. They do not notice any symptoms at that time because their adrenaline and hormones are quite high. These endorphins and adrenaline tend to supercharge the brain and block pain. However, after a few days, after the hormones wear off, people then realize that they were injured. Sadly, most insurance companies give a three-day window where one should see a doctor after an accident, and you may not be compensated if you go later than that. So, when should you see a doctor after an accident? Read on to find out.
The Types Of Injuries Sustained In A Car Accident
When one is involved in a car accident, they will experience different types of injuries as every accident is different. The factors that will affect the injuries caused include:
- The Type Of Accident.
The injuries will vary based on if it was a rear-end collision, a single-vehicle accident, or a T-Bone accident.
- The Speed Of The Vehicle.
A car driving at high speed will cause the people involved to have more severe injuries as opposed to a vehicle moving at a slower pace.
- If The Passengers Were Wearing A Seatbelt.
Seatbelts tend to minimize the impact of the injuries; hence, someone who is wearing a belt will be injured to a smaller extent as opposed to one not wearing one.
The common injuries in car collisions include soft tissue injuries, fractures, lacerations, broken bones, concussions, and traumatic brain injuries.
- Soft Tissue Injuries
A soft tissue injury is a damage to other parts of the body, apart from the bone. It affects the muscles, tendons, and ligaments as they are referred to as soft tissue. One of the most common soft tissue injuries is whiplash. It is damage caused to the neck muscles when the head is thrown forward and backward, with a lot of force. These injuries often do not show up immediately. They may take up to several weeks for you to notice any symptoms.
- Concussions
These do not also show any symptoms immediately and occur when your head is struck violently. The brain will then be affected. Below are symptoms of concussions that you should look for when you have been involved in a car accident.
- Headache
- Nausea
- Blurry Vision
- Clouded Thinking
- Abnormal Sleep Patterns
- Inability To Concentrate
When Should You See A Doctor?
The answer to this is: immediately! Even if you feel fine, it is advised to see a doctor since they will run some tests on you and see if you are okay. If you have injuries, they will assess them, treat them, and document them, in case you will need evidence of injuries when seeking compensation. If you have suffered any severe injuries such as broken bones or traumatic brain injury, you should go to the emergency room immediately. You can check this URL to learn how medical professionals can help you speed up and streamline your recovery process. To ensure that the insurance company does not deny your claim and refuse to pay your bills, it is advised to see a doctor within 72 hours of the accident. Taking longer than that will be hard for you since they will claim that you are faking the accident to get money, or the accident did not hurt you.
Why You Should See A Chiropractor
After an accident, the majority of the injuries are often non-visible. This is where chiropractors specialize in. They will reduce the pain naturally of your soft tissue injuries by doing a readjustment to the body by restoring it to its optimum functioning ability and its natural energy flow. They will find out where the source of the pain and discomfort is and treat it at the source. They are a great option as opposed to regular doctors who will give you pain medications that have side effects or even recommend surgeries that may be dangerous for you and unnecessary.
Car accident chiropractors are specially designed to deal with car accident injuries and can spot them, no matter how long they take to appear. They will also help you to get ahead of the pain, instead of waiting for the situation to get worse. They will use spinal manipulations to help relieve pain, hence enabling you to heal faster. They will also restore your mobility after experiencing soreness from the accident, which may decrease your mobility. Doing so will help the body begin its process of natural healing.
Ignoring pain from an accident can lead to long-term damages to your body. It is therefore essential, as seen above, to see a doctor immediately after a car crash for a car accident injury assessment. They will check you out and help you on your journey towards healing as fast as possible. It is also advised to see a car accident chiropractor as they are trained to deal with all injuries after a collision, and a specialist is better than a regular doctor.