Many people involved in car accidents believe they only need to go to the hospital if they feel injury symptoms, such as pain, stiffness or swelling. While it is important to go to the hospital for these reasons, it is not the only time you should seek medical care after a collision. The best way to protect your health and your legal rights is by going to the hospital or your regular doctor after any car accident, even if you feel fine. The reason for this is the possibility of delayed injury symptoms.
Some injuries naturally have delayed symptoms based on how they impact the victim and the body. Many traumatic brain injuries, for example, cause slow bleeds, leaks or swelling in the brain that may not initially have a noticeable effect on the victim. Over a few hours or days, however, the problem can grow worse until it causes symptoms such as seizures or unconsciousness. Other common injuries with delayed symptoms include whiplash, herniated disks, slipped disks, back injuries and broken bones. If you see a doctor immediately, he or she can use special tests and imaging scans to diagnose injuries before you notice symptoms – often leading to a better survival rate.