Wham! Auto Accident – When to See a Doctor?

Life is great; you’re doing fine, and then – wham! You’re injured in an auto accident. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that 3,335,800 people are injured in auto accidents in the U.S. each year. While no two car accidents are the same, neither are injuries. Though they differ in severity from case to case, there are some car accident injuries that are more common than others. Unfortunately, many injuries go untreated.

While car accident injuries can vary from person to person and from crash to crash, there are some fairly common ones including whiplash, low back pain, neck pain injuries to shoulders or arms and legs.

DID YOU KNOW?

• If you are involved in an accident, most auto insurance plans cover your medical expenses.
• Even if you feel okay at first, symptoms may not show up for days, weeks or even months.
• Even a low-impact auto accident of 5 mph can cause neck and spine and soft-tissue damage. That’s why it’s important to have an evaluation from your doctor even if you don’t feel pain.
• Just because the vehicle does not have any damage does not mean that your body is okay. Low-impact auto accidents (6-12 mph) cause the highest number of whiplash injuries.

If you experience any type of pain you should always seek a consultation from a doctor. The human back and neck is a delicate and complex structure of bones, muscles, nerves and other tissues. While a healthy neck and back is easy to take for granted, an injury that goes untreated can have severe and long-lasting consequences that affect every aspect of daily life.