Do I really need to see a doctor after my accident?

Everyone knows the familiar sounds and lights of ambulance, police and firefighters surrounding an accident, but not everyone involved in an accident seeks medical evaluation and treatment after the accident. Medical treatment should not be limited to only the most severe automobile accidents. It is actually recommended that anyone involved in an automobile accident see their doctor after an accident to ensure they are actually okay and receive medical clearance.

Medical clearance simply means that the doctor has examined you and found that there does not appear to be any injuries directly related to the accident. Medical clearance is important not only for your health but also to ensure there is documentation to support and submit to the insurance company, if necessary, that this particular accident did not result in an injury. This is important in case you are involved in a future accident which does result in an injury.  As part of the insurance company’s investigation of any accident, the insurance company will review your prior accident history. If they see you were previously involved in an accident they may try and blame any current injury on a prior accident. If you obtained medical clearance for the prior accident, you can provide that to the insurance company to shut down their attempt to avoid compensating you for your injuries.

Additionally, not all symptoms of accident related injuries are immediately recognizable. Sometimes at the accident scene and for several days thereafter the accident victim’s adrenaline has taken over and is masking symptoms. In the case of whiplash, it may take several days for the inflammation and pain to begin. In addition, some symptoms like dizziness, nausea and exhaustion which are all signs of a concussion take time to show up.

For this reason, it is imperative that if you are involved in accident you seek medical evaluation to ensure your medical status after the accident is properly documented and any injuries treated.

If you or a loved one have been involved in an automobile accident, please contact us today to schedule your free consultation to discuss your rights after an accident.