It would be wise to see a doctor within 72 hours of an auto accident. When you suffer an injury after a car accident, you need to get checked out ASAP. If you cannot make it to see a doctor right away, you may find yourself visiting the ER. Thus, 72 hours is a window of time that some insurance companies put for you to see a doctor.
Attorneys want you to see a doctor right away. This may increase the value of your medical case. However, not seeing a doctor could be a huge mistake if you plan on filing a personal injury suit. Not only do you have a gap in medical care, but it is possible you could be putting your health at risk.
Why see a Doctor within 72 hours of an auto accident?
Insurance companies have programs on computers that tells them what your injury case is worth. One of those deciding factors is when did you see a doctor and was it within 72 hours of the auto accident. We live in a day when computers tell us what a personal injury case is worth. Not all insurance companies use this type of software.
However, it would be in your best interest to seek help immediately following a car wreck. If you don’t think you are hurt, go to the doctor to get a evaluation. 72 hours is a time frame that insurance companies look at, and so do lawyers. This is not a time frame a doctor will look at. Because, accident doctors know that injuries might not present themselves right away.
Delayed onset of injuries
Accident Injuries and inflammation can trigger physiological changes that can take place immediately, hours, or days after the injury itself. These inflammatory changes include a local sensitization of the nerves such that pain signals are stimulation that would normally be of low intensity are now experienced as painful. I’m sure all of us have woken up and felt pain in our shoulders ankles arms or legs at some point of our life and cannot figure out what caused it.
It could have been that soccer game we played, or the yard work we did. Delayed onset of injuries is something that does happen. This would be a perfect example of why you should go see a doctor within 72 hours of your car accident. And, you may not know you are even injured until days, or maybe weeks after the accident. Delayed onset of injuries could cause long term injuries if not treated.
Gaps in medical care, what can be done
Gaps in medical care are where you wait to see a doctor or you don’t see one at all for injuries sustained in a car accident. You may not be able to go see a doctor because you can not get an appointment until a month out. By this time, you have skipped the 72 hour window. Nothing can be done about a gap in medical care. However, it can be explained.
You could have been dealing with a death in the family, or an injured child. Some people want to tough it out, or they do not like seeing a accident doctor. A delay in treatment may reduce the amount of money the insurance company will pay on your medical claim. Get to the doctor as soon as possible to avoid a gap in medical care. Even with a gap, if you are hurting, go.
Soft tissue injuries
Soft tissue injuriesSoft tissue injuries are damage to the muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Broken bones are apparent. However, soft tissue injuries are not, in some cases. Whiplash is the most common soft tissue injury in an auto accident. Whiplash may not be apparent right away and make take days to present symptoms. Some type of soft tissue injuries
- Acute injury-An Acute injury is an injury that is usually associated with a traumatic event. A traumatic impact can cause your bone to crack, muscles to tear or ligaments to break. Signs and symptoms of acute injuries develop rapidly
- Bruises-an injury appearing as an area of discolored skin on the body. This could be caused by a direct force applied and result in compression and bleeding into the soft tissue. Signs or symptoms of bruising would be discoloration and swelling
- Sprain-When a joint is forced beyond its normal range of motion, this results in overstretching or tearing of the ligaments. Symptoms could include swelling, discoloration, bruising, pain, inability to bear weight
- Strain-Muscles that are forced to overstretch, this results in tears in the muscle and tendons. Symptoms may include swelling, pain in movement, discoloration and bruising
You dont have long to see a doctor after a car accident
After your auto accident it is very important to see a doctor as quickly as you can. Life does get in the way, and accident doctors and attorneys understand this, the insurance company won’t. If you have been injured see a doctor ASAP. If we do not have one listed in our database, we will try and find you one in your area.
Contact us or fill out the sidebar form on every page of this website. Seeing a accident doctor after your car wreck if you are hurt is the single most important thing you could ever do. Furthermore, you want to have chance at a successful recovery for your medical case. However, you don’t have long to see a doctor after a car accident, so go right away.