If you were injured because of someone else’s negligence, you may be in shock immediately after the accident. Car accidents, slip and fall accidents, dog bites, nursing home injuries, or any other type of accident that causes injuries can be overwhelming and terrifying. You may not immediately feel just how seriously you are injured after an accident or injury. However, it is imperative that you seek medical treatment immediately and consistently keep your doctor’s appointments. There are many “unseen” injuries that can be very serious injuries, such as traumatic brain injuries, that cannot be identified other than by a medical professional.
Injuries Resulting from an Accident
Many injuries following an accident seem minor, and ambulances are not always called to medically evaluate victims. However, in most accidents, people become frightened and release epinephrine, also called adrenaline, which acts as a “fight or flight” response to what the body senses as an immediate danger. This chemical does not dissipate from the body immediately but rather lingers after an accident. Additionally, adrenaline prevents the body and brain from processing pain correctly, oftentimes diminishing the number of painful sensations felt. This is important to know because your body could be suffering from severe injuries, but your brain is telling you that you feel no pain. This is often the case after car accidents, traumatic slip and fall accidents, dog bites, serious injuries at work, or other catastrophic accidents.
When Should You Seek Medical Treatment
If you wait for hours or days after the adrenaline subsides, you may start to feel the effects of the wreck. If you wait too long to seek treatment, you risk suffering damage that left untreated may become permanent. Seeking medical attention after any type of accident is imperative, not only for your medical health but to establish that you were truly injured by a negligent party in case you ever decide to pursue a claim to receive compensation for your injuries. Always seek medical attention as soon as possible after any type of accident. In many cases, injuries following accidents can take hours or days to appear. Whiplash, internal bleeding, fractures, concussions, and other soft-tissue injuries take time to manifest. Make sure to visit a medical professional as soon as possible to be evaluated and receive proper medical treatment.
Insurance Settlements
Never settle with an insurance company until your medical treatment is completed, you are released by your medical doctor and you are fully restored to health. Insurance companies will oftentimes purposefully offer low settlement amounts, and the negotiation process can be intense and adversarial. Contact an experienced personal injury attorney as soon as possible following any type of accident to help you determine your best course of action and how to receive the maximum amount of compensation possible for your injuries. If you were injured in an accident, contact Griggs Injury Law at (816) 474-0202 to help you through this process, help you get the medical treatments you need, help you negotiate with insurance companies, and help you get the compensation you deserve.
