You were on your way to a mid-morning tee time with friends when another driver ran a red light and t-boned your car. Once the cops come to take your statements and issue the other driver a ticket, you might feel eager to get on with your day.
You might want to brush off the pains and aches you have as low-grade side effects from the crash, but they could be warning signs of something more serious. Going to see a physician is more important than hitting the greens after a motor vehicle collision.
Certain injuries don’t always seem serious at first
You probably did a quick check of yourself after the crash to see if there were any obvious lacerations or broken bones. A little bit of bruising or headache may not seem like a serious concern, but both of those could be warning signs of an invisible injury.
A headache after a crash, especially if you hit your head or lost consciousness, could be a sign of a traumatic brain injury (TBI). Left untreated, a TBI could continue to get worse as pressure builds inside your skull.
If you have bruising on your abdomen from wearing your seat belt or the airbag helping keep you in place during the crash, that could be a sign of a more serious injury underneath. Internal bleeding in the chest or abdomen can result in substantial amounts of blood loss and can prove fatal in severe cases.
Timely medical evaluation benefits your health and finances
Going to the doctor, especially without a pre-existing appointment, might mean an inconvenience that lasts a few hours. However, your physician could identify warning signs of a serious invisible injury and help you get treatment before things progress.
Additionally, if there are reasons to be concerned about internal bleeding or a brain injury, a quick diagnosis after the crash will make it harder for the other driver or their insurance company to claim that the injury doesn’t relate to the collision. You can always schedule another round of golf in a week or two when you’re feeling better, and your car has either gotten repaired or replaced.
