Most people who are involved in car accidents are in a state of shock afterward. Confused, many Texas victims make the mistake of thinking that they weren’t injured. Turning down a medical assessment or failing to follow up with a doctor after an accident is a big mistake for many reasons.
You could have hidden injuries
Car accident victims have adrenaline flowing through their bodies, so they may not feel pain from their injuries right away. Even car accident victims with severe injuries like broken bones sometimes have to be told by others that they are not okay.
Less severe injuries like whiplash sometimes take days before they are apparent, as symptoms can be delayed. Brain injuries from blows to the head can leave car accident victims in a dazed state where they can’t make a good decision. No matter how you feel right after a car accident, you should always get medical attention.
You might accidentally aggravate your injuries
If you don’t see a doctor shortly after a car accident, you could end up aggravating an injury that you didn’t know you had. For example, you could have a minor spinal injury that requires some rest and icing. If you ignore it and lift something heavy, you could end up with a worse back problem. People with head trauma should also be very careful about putting themselves at risk of another blow to the head.
You will need medical records for your claim
Another reason it is so important to see a doctor after your car accident is that you will have to gather medical records for your insurance claim. To get the most out of your claim, you may need to see specialists who can diagnose your specific injury.