4 Times When You Should Seek A Medical Evaluation After A Car Accident

If you have been in a minor fender bender, you may think that you’ll be fine without a visit to the doctor. However, even low-impact crashes can lead to some significant physical injuries, and you need to know some of the subtle signs that suggest you’re more injured than you appear. In today’s blog, we take a closer look at four times when you should definitely seek out a medical evaluation after a car accident.

When To Seek Medical Care After A Car Accident

We’re going to skip the more obvious symptoms and focus on some of the more subtle signs of an underlying issue. After all, if your leg is broken or you have a major gash on your forehead, you’ll know that you need medical attention. Here’s a look at four less obvious signs that you’ll want to seek out a professional medical evaluation after a Minnesota car accident:

1. Worsening Cognitive Symptoms – Physical symptoms are easier for the average person to assess, but friends and family can’t as easily diagnose head injuries. If you’re noticing that you’re suffering from headaches, a sensitivity to light, dizziness, confusion or fatigue in the wake of your accident, these are all indications that you have a head injury that should be evaluated by a professional. Head injuries aren’t always obvious, and if you’re just not feeling like yourself after a car accident, set up a consultation with a doctor.

2. Bruises Spread – Some bruising is to be expected after a car accident, even in a low-energy accident if the seat belt did its job and kept you in place. However, if the bruise continues to get larger, or it seems to expand and turn black or purple, it may be a sign of internal bleeding that requires prompt medical attention. Keep an eye on your bruises to make sure they aren’t showing signs of internal bleeding.

3. Numbness/Tingling/Shooting Discomfort – If you’re dealing with any of these symptoms, there’s a distinct possibility that you’re dealing with a nerve injury. Your nerves help to relay messages to and from the brain, and if you’re experiencing numbness or a tingling sensation, it could be the result of damage to these sensory nerves. Some people may try to ignore the sensations because they aren’t painful in nature, but they can’t become painful if a nerve injury remains unaddressed. Instead, connect with a doctor and tell them about your sensory symptoms.

4. You’re At All Considering A Claim – If you are dealing with some discomfort after a crash but are unsure of whether or not you’ll file a personal injury claim, our advice is to go ahead and get that medical evaluation. Even if you don’t end up filing, that medical exam can provide you with some answers or a clean bill of health. If you decide you want to move forward with an injury claim, the insurance company is going to want documented professional proof of your injuries, and if you dragged your feet getting an evaluation, the insurance company may argue that you’re not as injured as you claim. You only complicate matters for yourself by delaying a consultation with a doctor after a car accident if an injury claim is in your future.

If you have any questions at all about your health in the wake of a car accident, please go get a medical evaluation from a doctor. Our bodies release adrenaline during moments of intense stress, and adrenaline can mask pain sensations, so it’s possible that you don’t realize the extent of your pain until a day or two after the accident. If this happens to you, make sure you get treated by a doctor.

For help finding a doctor to perform an independent medical exam, regardless of whether or not you’re going to move forward with an injury claim, reach out to the team at Margolis Law Firm today at (952) 230-2700.