Checking for injuries is common practice after a car crash. People move their limbs, check for blood and make sure they can exit their vehicles safely. They also check on their passengers and the people in the other vehicle. They can report any noticeable symptoms to first responders to secure prompt medical attention.
Some people leave the scene of a crash assuming that they did not sustain any injuries, only to require emergency medical care days later. The risk of people sustaining injuries without realizing it makes it important to see a doctor as soon as possible after a collision.
How do people overlook major injuries?
There are two main reasons that people with car crash injuries may not realize that they need medical attention. The first is how their body responds to the crash. The stress response can cover signs of pain and leave people unaware of their need for medical attention until hours later or the next day.
The other is that some conditions progress slowly and aren’t obvious at first. Internal bleeding, including bleeding inside the skull due to a traumatic brain injury (TBI), may not be obvious immediately after a person sustains their injury.
Symptoms may only become apparent when the injury progresses. The longer that people wait to receive medical care after a car crash, the more challenging it may be for them to pursue compensation later. There could be questions about whether the collision is actually to blame for their injuries.
Seeing a doctor shortly after a car crash can help people prove that the collision caused their injuries. Those with significant injuries may need help holding the driver at fault for the wreck accountable for their medical expenses and lost wages, and that’s okay.