If you feel fine after a car crash, you might be tempted to get back to your plans for the day as soon as possible. The crash and its aftermath will take up a few hours, and if you are a busy person, you might think you cannot spare the time to queue for medical attention.
Yet that could be a massive mistake. However busy you are, however late you are, and however fine you feel, you need to get a medical check-up. Why is this?
Not all injuries are apparent straight away
People who thought they were fine after a collision have sometimes died of their injuries. Others have been plagued for years by injuries they did not realize they had sustained at the time.
A high-stress event such as a collision sends adrenaline coursing through your body. It stems from the times when humans may have needed to fight a wild animal. They would not have lasted long if they passed out or felt weak at the first claw mark. Hence the body evolved to allow people to temporarily ignore pain so they could fight back or run and save their lives.
In addition, some injuries are slow burners. For example, a brain hemorrhage might not involve any pain or external signs. The only way to spot the damage will be when someone close to you realizes you are acting differently. Or when a doctor carries out tests or scans.
To give yourself the best chance of surviving a car crash with no long-term issues, you need to get a medical check-up straight away. Many injuries can be treated or minimized if caught soon enough. Identifying all issues will also be crucial to getting injury compensation that covers them all.