You may be tempted to put off a medical evaluation if you are involved in a minor fender bender. This is especially the case if you feel fine after the collision.
However, this isn’t a good idea. In any accident, your body releases the stress hormone, which activates your “fight or flight” response. This can mask aches and pains that you may experience after any accident – even a minor one.
While this is true, there are more specific reasons why you should seek medical treatment after any car accident, which are described here.
Hidden or delayed injuries can be detected
As mentioned above, your body will respond to the collision, and this response can mask injuries. It is not uncommon for individuals involved in minor accidents to go several days or weeks before experiencing pain from accident-caused injuries. Unfortunately, if you don’t seek treatment promptly, it can worsen and lead to more serious problems.
Documentation of your injuries could be important
Another reason to seek medical treatment immediately after a car accident is to have your injuries documented. If you plan to file a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault party, having documentation that is dated right after the incident occurred will work in your favor.
Without this documentation, the at-fault party’s insurance company may claim that you were not seriously injured or that your injuries did not occur during the accident. This is how they try to reduce or deny your claim.
Don’t wait to seek medical treatment
If you are involved in a car accident, even a minor one, you must seek medical treatment immediately. As you can see, this treatment is necessary for a few reasons. Knowing your legal rights and options will help ensure you recover the compensation you are entitled to.