Car Accident
Experiencing a car accident can be one of the most jarring events in a person’s life, leaving you in a state of shock and confusion. Understandably, you might be wondering, Should I go to the doctor after a car accident? In the immediate moments following the crash, it’s possible you might not understand the full extent of your injuries. Sometimes, you might not even realize you are injured for a day or two after the accident. That’s why it’s imperative to recognize the signs you should go to the hospital after a car accident.
Go to the hospital after a car accident if you experience severe pain, visible injuries, difficulty breathing, or loss of consciousness. Seek immediate medical care for numbness, tingling, abdominal pain, swelling, confusion, memory loss, or personality changes.
Key Takeaways
- Go to the hospital immediately if you lose consciousness, have severe pain, difficulty breathing, or visible injuries.
- Watch for delayed symptoms such as nausea, numbness, tingling, confusion, or memory problems — these may signal serious hidden injuries.
- Even without obvious symptoms, a medical exam after a crash is critical to detect internal injuries and protect your health and legal rights.
What Immediate Symptoms Should You Watch for After a Car Accident?
Watch for severe symptoms after an accident, such as a loss of consciousness, severe pain or inability to move, difficulty breathing, and visible injuries.
Loss of Consciousness
Any loss of consciousness, no matter how brief, should prompt an immediate visit to the hospital. It could indicate a concussion or more severe traumatic brain injury. Getting any potential head injuries checked immediately is crucial because it can improve your overall prognosis.
Severe Pain or Inability to Move
Severe pain, especially in the neck, back, or abdomen, can signal significant injuries like fractures, internal bleeding, or spinal damage. Don’t dismiss intense discomfort; it warrants professional evaluation. On the other hand, if you cannot feel your legs or move one of your extremities, it also warrants an emergency trip to the hospital. You could have nerve impingement or something more serious like spinal cord damage.
Difficulty Breathing or Chest Pain
These symptoms can suggest serious issues, including internal injuries, broken ribs, or even heart problems triggered by the stress of the accident.
Visible Injuries
Obvious injuries such as deep cuts, broken bones protruding from the skin, or burns should be treated immediately to prevent complications. Don’t skip going to the hospital if you think you have a severe injury that needs medical attention.
Symptoms That May Develop Later
It’s not uncommon for some symptoms to develop in the hours or days after an accident. Immediately following the accident, the rush of adrenaline can mask pain. Once things settle down, you might start noticing pain and other symptoms of something seriously wrong.
Nausea or Vomiting
Nausea three days after a car accident may signal a serious condition like a concussion, internal bleeding, organ damage, whiplash, or anxiety. Normal nausea from stress fades within 48 hours. Delayed or persistent nausea requires urgent medical evaluation to prevent complications and identify hidden injuries.
Damage to internal organs can cause internal bleeding, which irritates the abdominal lining, increases pressure, and stimulates the vagus nerve and brain centers, triggering nausea and vomiting.
Nausea after a car accident may result from shock or stress but can also indicate serious trauma like concussion, whiplash, internal injury, or inner ear disruption. Since symptoms may be delayed, seek prompt medical evaluation to rule out severe conditions, even after minor accidents.
Vomiting after a car accident may signal serious conditions like traumatic brain injury, whiplash, internal bleeding, or organ damage. It can also result from shock or stress. Seek immediate medical attention, even if symptoms are mild or delayed, to identify the cause and prevent life-threatening complications.
Changes in Physical Function
If you notice difficulty with balance or coordination or experience weakness in any part of the body, these could indicate injuries to the brain or spinal cord. Please don’t wait to seek treatment for these symptoms, as they could point to something severe.
Changes in Sensation
Numbness or tingling in the extremities may indicate nerve damage or spinal injury and requires immediate medical evaluation.
Emotional or Cognitive Changes
Disorientation, confusion, and memory problems can indicate a concussion or more severe brain injury. Changes in mood or behavior should also be taken seriously.
When in Doubt, Get a Medical Exam
Even if you don’t have visible injuries or immediate pain, it’s wise to visit a doctor after a car accident. Some injuries, like soft tissue damage or internal bleeding, might not show symptoms immediately. A medical professional can assess your condition and advise on necessary treatments or follow-up care.
Go to the hospital immediately if a doctor or urgent care physician recommends it. Get a thorough check-up to rule out hidden life-threatening injuries.
It might require a doctor to diagnose them through various diagnostic tests, such as X-rays, MRIs, or CT scans.
Tips for Long-Term Care
If you recognize any of the signs you should go to the hospital after a car accident, be sure to follow through on all the recommendations the emergency room doctor gives you, whether it’s to seek follow-up treatment or schedule an appointment with a specialist. Follow-up care is crucial for many types of injuries. Going to the hospital after a car accident isn’t enough if you don’t follow through with the entire care plan.
Contact a North Carolina Car Accident Lawyer at Mehta & McConnell, PLLC
Understanding when to visit the hospital after a car accident is crucial. Not only can it impact your health, but it can also affect your future personal injury claim. Even seemingly minor accidents can result in significant injuries that only become apparent with time.
Recognizing these signs and taking immediate action can dramatically impact your recovery. It not only safeguards your health but protects your rights to pursue compensation from the at-fault parties.
At Mehta & McConnell, our legal team understands how scary the aftermath of a car accident can be. We can help you get the care you need and fight for the compensation you deserve following a North Carolina car accident.
Our attorneys have decades of combined experience representing injured car accident victims in North Carolina. We know what it takes to build a solid case. If you suffered injuries in a car accident that was not your fault, get in touch with our office today. Please schedule a consultation to learn more about how we can help you.
Jason McConnell
Jason McConnell is the managing attorney of Mehta & McConnell Injury Lawyers, a Charlotte, North Carolina Workers’ Compensation law firm. In his free time he enjoys playing golf, cooking, traveling and following the UNC Tar Heels and Carolina Panthers.