Why Medical Attention is Important, Even with Minor Injuries
Car accidents in Anchorage and across Alaska happen frequently and suddenly, usually leaving a person to deal with property damage and injuries. In less severe cases, you might be left with some scrapes and bruises, but no major wounds to deal with. However, even when it seems that your injuries are minor and do not require the attention of a medical doctor, you may want to reconsider those thoughts. Even minor injuries after an accident can turn out to be major in nature, as many auto accident injuries take days or weeks to fully present symptoms.
There are many reasons that you should seek professional medical attention after involvement in an Anchorage car accident, no matter how minor it seemed. Some injuries aren’t immediately apparent after a crash but can get worse if they are left untreated. The more time you take to go to the doctor, the harder it will be for you to prove that your injuries were a direct result of your accident if you plan to contact an Alaska personal injury attorney in order to seek financial compensation for them.
Serious Injuries can Result from Minor Impacts
Low-speed collisions can still cause drivers and passengers to be jolted in their seats. This type of sudden and unnatural bodily movement can lead to injuries such as neck strain, back pain, concussions, and whiplash, to name a few. Immediate signs of physical trauma are not always evident in these types of injuries, which is why it is important to seek medical attention after any type of accident, no matter how minor it seemed.
It is important to keep your eye out for certain symptoms after a low-impact crash, including the following, provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration:
Nausea
Headaches
Blurred/Double vision
Drowsiness
Confusion
Slowed reaction time
Tingling or numbness in limbs
Sore muscles
Stiff muscles
Light/noise sensitivity
A minor injury can worsen if not immediately treated by a medical professional. Oftentimes, prompt medical attention can lessen the likelihood of a minor injury becoming a big problem.
Legal Reasons to Seek Medical Attention with Minor Injuries
According to the National Safety Council, taking care of yourself and your passengers should be the first step you take after involvement in a traffic accident, however minor. Legitimate legal reasons also exist for seeking medical attention immediately after a crash. In the event that you wait too long after your accident to go to the doctor, your insurance company may use this as a reason to not cover your medical costs.
It also becomes increasingly difficult to take legal action in order to seek financial compensation for your injuries and losses if you wait too long to seek legitimate medical attention after your collision. Even waiting just a few days after a crash could give the opposing party a reason to question the validity of your Anchorage personal injury claim. They could argue that your injuries were the result of something that occurred after your crash. It may still be a possibility to recover financial compensation with the help of a skilled and experienced Anchorage car accident attorney, but it may be a larger challenge which will depend on how long you wait to seek medical attention.
You should always seek medical attention on the same day your accident occurred. This is the safest way to ensure that your personal injury claim will move forward swiftly and without issue. In the event that you or someone you love has been injured in an auto accident in Anchorage, contact the Law Office of Jason Skala, LLC in order to speak with a reputable and skilled Anchorage personal injury lawyer about how to move forward with your personal injury claim. We believe that no one should ever have to pay for being injured in an accident that was the result of another person’s negligence. Call our law firm in order to speak with an attorney regarding your case.