When Is It Too Late To Go To The Doctor After a Car Accident?

Should I Go to the Doctor After a Car Accident in New Mexico?

It’s always best practice to go to the hospital after a car crash in New Mexico. Delayed medical care can lead to issues with your physical health and any personal injury claim you might have after a wreck.

After a car crash, most people’s first reaction is to seek medical attention, especially if they are injured. While there are many reasons you should go to the hospital after an accident, sometimes, people believe that they don’t need medical attention, especially if their injuries don’t seem serious at first. However, seeking medical attention as soon as possible can be crucial to your health and well-being, even if you were in a minor car accident. Delayed symptoms can be common after car accidents, and they can lead to serious problems down the road.

In The Article

Delayed Symptoms After a Car Wreck

Many car accident injuries may have delayed symptoms. After a car wreck, you may feel like you’re totally fine. However, after a sudden accident, the body can experience an adrenaline rush, making it more difficult to identify pain.

When is it Too Late to Go to the Doctor After a Car Wreck?

How Long After a Car Wreck Can Injuries Appear?

Injuries like whiplash and traumatic brain injuries can take several hours up to a few days to become painful. Depending on how your body reacts to the car wreck, you may think you’re completely fine until a few days later. These “hidden injuries” may not exhibit immediate symptoms, but that doesn’t make them minor injuries. These injuries can be just as severe as other, more obvious injuries, and they can cause lifelong complications.
Some common injuries that may be difficult to immediately diagnose are:

Delayed Pain from Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs)

Traumatic brain injuries can be particularly deceptive and dangerous if left untreated. Symptoms may not manifest immediately, but they can have devastating long-term consequences. TBIs can result from a blow to the head or whiplash, which can easily occur in a collision. Even a mild concussion can lead to serious cognitive and emotional problems. For those suffering from a TBI, recognizing the signs of a brain injury can be difficult, if not impossible. TBIs may go unnoticed for days or even weeks until friends or family realize that their loved one is not acting like themselves.

Delayed Pain from Back and Neck Injuries

Neck and back injuries after a car accident, such as herniated discs and fractures, are also common consequences of car accidents. These injuries can cause debilitating pain, limited mobility, and even disability. While some neck and back injuries will be more noticeable, others may take time to develop. What some assume is just average neck or back pain following a collision may become chronic or even get worse as time goes on. If you don’t visit a doctor after a crash, a whiplash claim may become more difficult to prove.

Early Medical Intervention is Key When Dealing with Car Accident Injuries

Even if you feel as though you aren’t injured, getting checked out by a doctor after a car accident can make a big difference in your recovery.

After a Car Crash It’s Important to Get Checked by a Doctor To:

• Begin the Healing Process

Your health should be your top priority. Even if you don’t initially feel pain or discomfort, you can’t be certain without getting evaluated by a healthcare provider. A prompt medical assessment helps ensure that any injuries are diagnosed and treated as early as possible and gets you on the road to recovery faster.

• Discover Underlying Injuries

Injuries that aren’t immediately visible to the eye can be caught using medical technology, such as X-rays and MRIs. This will help your healthcare provider pinpoint the root of your pain and prevent unnecessary treatment.

• Establish Documentation for Your Injury Claim

Seeking medical care immediately after an accident creates a clear link between your injuries and the incident. This connection is essential when pursuing a personal injury claim. Insurance companies and opposing lawyers often use delays in seeking treatment as an argument against the validity of the injury claim.

What to Do if You Didn’t Go to a Doctor After a Car Crash in New Mexico

Make an Appointment with Your Doctor

Seek medical attention as soon as you’re able. Explain the circumstances of the accident to the healthcare provider and make sure they document your statements and symptoms. The sooner you’re seen by a healthcare professional, the earlier your documentation trail will start.

Get a Treatment Plan

Your treatment plan will be outlined by your medical providers and will help you get your health back on track. You can only get a treatment plan in place by consulting with your healthcare provider and getting an evaluation, so make sure to make your initial appointment as soon as you realize something is wrong.

Follow Your Treatment Plan

This step is crucial for the outcome of your case. While circumstances may have prevented you from seeking medical attention right away, making sure you go to all of your appointments with doctors, nurse practitioners, chiropractors, and physical therapists will help prove the extent of your injuries. Each visit is documented in your medical record. That means each time you go to an appointment, the status of your health and any changes or improvements are detailed in notes that can be used as evidence in your case. If you have to miss an appointment, try to reschedule it as quickly as possible to avoid gaps in treatment. Missing appointments too frequently can cause insurance adjusters to question the extent of your injuries, which weakens your case.

Contact a Car Crash Attorney in New Mexico

Getting a car accident attorney in New Mexico can help you build your personal injury case, even if there were delays in your medical treatment after the injury. The experienced car accident lawyers at Ron Bell Injury Lawyers can help you get the compensation you deserve. Call us today to get your free case evaluation. 898-BELL

Do I Still Have a Case if There Are Delays in Medical Treatment?

Yes. Even though delayed medical care can affect your personal injury claim as well as your physical health, with the right attorney, you can still build a case.

How Ron Bell Injury Lawyers Can Help if You Delayed Treatment After a Car Wreck

As a firm with over 40 years of experience representing those who have been hurt in car wrecks in Albuquerque, the Ron Bell Injury Lawyers team has handled many cases where clients did not seek immediate emergency care yet still had strong cases for compensation. Contact us today for a free case evaluation. 898-BELL