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Do I Still Need to Go to the Doctor if I’m Not Injured After a Car Crash?

Car crashes in St. Louis are all too familiar, with almost 15,000 injury accidents occurring in 2022. After a collision, you may assume you’re okay, especially if you don’t have visible injuries or feel any immediate pain. However, the body’s adrenaline response can temporarily mask symptoms, making it difficult to detect potential injuries.

Many people walk away from accidents thinking they’re okay, only to notice lingering symptoms hours or days later. Discover why seeking medical attention after an accident is critical, even if you feel fine,  and how a St. Louis car accident lawyer can assist you in collecting documentation for your compensation claim.

Some Injuries Are Not Immediately Apparent

After a car crash, you may feel unharmed due to your body’s natural adrenaline surge.  But as the effects fade in the hours or days afterward, hidden injuries can surface, including:

  • Concussions or Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs): Symptoms likedizziness, confusion, or light sensitivity that can signal potential brain trauma
  • Soft Tissue Injuries: Gradual pain or swelling in muscles, ligaments, or tendons that can lead to restricted movement

Seeking prompt medical attention can help doctors identify these conditions, prevent complications, and ensure you receive proper care.

What Your Medical Provider Can Do

Medical providers are critical in identifying injuries after a car accident, even when symptoms aren’t immediately apparent. They perform tests to detect injuries you might not feel yet to confirm you’re injury-free. These evaluations might include:

  • Physical Exams: Identifying pain, swelling, or tenderness
  • X-rays: Detecting fractures or bone damage
  • CT Scans or MRIs: Revealing soft tissue injuries, internal bleeding, or brain trauma
  • Cognitive Tests and Screenings: Assessing memory, concentration, and brain function
  • Hearing and Vision Tests: Evaluating sensory changes resulting from the accident

Early diagnosis allows your medical provider to recommend the right treatments for recovery while creating detailed medical records, which are essential evidence if you are pursuing a personal injury claim.

Why Medical Documentation Is Key to a Strong Car Accident Claim

Proving your injuries and their severity is essential for a successful car accident claim. Medical documentation, such as physician’s notes, diagnostic test results, and treatment records, helps in several ways:

  • Confirming the Existence of Injuries: Medical records document your injuries, describing their type and severity to illustrate the harm caused.
  • Ruling Out Other Causes: A professional diagnosis can separate accident-related injuries from preexisting conditions or unrelated health issues, reducing disputes over your symptoms’ origins.
  • Documenting Treatment and Impact: Your medical records track the care you’ve received and detail how the injuries affect your daily life, including work limitations and daily tasks.
  • Highlighting Future Needs: Medical evaluations can reveal long-term effects, such as the need for continued treatment, rehabilitation, or permanent disability care.

Delaying care risks your health and allows insurance companies to downplay your injuries. Seeking prompt medical attention protects your well-being and your legal claim.

How an Attorney Can Strengthen Your Car Accident Case

Car accidents involving hidden injuries, such as whiplash or internal trauma, can be difficult to prove since symptoms may not appear right away. This delay often gives insurers grounds to challenge the legitimacy of your claim. A skilled car accident attorney can counter these issues by doing the following:

  • Collaborating with medical professionals to connect your injuries to the crash and establish a clear medical timeline
  • Using expert testimony to explain how the accident caused your injuries and outline potential long-term effects
  • Calculating the full scope of damages, including ongoing medical care, lost income, and future treatment needs

Contact Cofman Townsley Today for a Free Consultation

At Cofman Townsley, our St. Louis car accident lawyers know how to interpret medical findings, gather critical evidence, and negotiate aggressively with insurers to secure the financial award you deserve.

We have decades of experience representing accident victims in St. Louis and surrounding areas. Our team has won over $1 billion on behalf of those injured by negligent parties, and we can use our knowledge and legal resources to represent you.

Contact us today for a free consultation and let our team help you pursue the settlement you’re entitled to.