You were traveling to see a movie, and you and your friends were having a nice time chatting in the car. The next thing you knew, you were all being whipped around in your vehicle after a side impact. Your vehicle was set spinning, and you ended up on the side of the road with your airbags blown and everyone a little worse for wear.
You and your friends were fortunate and able to get out of the vehicle on your own. Two of your friends complained of headaches and feeling unwell. The other had a few cuts and developing bruises. You felt fine, but you knew that it probably wouldn’t last.
After an auto crash like this, it’s very important that you get in to see a doctor or go to the hospital by ambulance. You may think that being treated at the scene is enough, but it’s much better to have a full medical exam as soon as you can.
Why should you go to the hospital after a crash?
Some injuries, like whiplash, can take many hours to develop. However, if you go to the hospital, your medical provider may be able to diagnose you earlier and provide you with the treatment plan you need to start recovering sooner.
Another good reason to go to the hospital is to make sure you have documentation. You want to be able to show that you realized that you were injured and that you took steps to seek the care that you needed. This is important for your insurance claim. You can obtain copies of the medical documents as well as your receipts for any medical care you pay for, so that you can submit that to your attorney and use it as a part of your claim.
Going to the hospital helps you get the help you need quickly
Remember, there is another problem you could be facing, too. That’s the way the body responds to injuries. When injured, many hormones and chemicals release to make you more alert and to encourage you to fight or flee. The body’s goal is to get you to safety, so it helps by reducing pain or “hiding” injuries. Go to the hospital, because X-rays, CT scans and MRIs can more effectively identify injuries that you may not have even known you had. You can then be sure of your diagnoses and be able to file a claim for the compensation you need as you recover.
