Hurt in a Car Accident? See a Doctor First

Written by Angeli Swinamer, Managing Partner

After a car accident, it is easy to focus on your vehicle damage, insurance calls and everything else that needs to be handled. However, your health should take priority.

Some injuries appear right away. Others take hours or days to surface. Adrenaline can mask pain, and symptoms such as headaches, stiffness, dizziness or back pain may not begin until later.

The effects may also be emotional. Anxiety, poor sleep, fear of driving, flashbacks or difficulty concentrating can be signs of trauma after a car accident.

Seeing a doctor right away gives you the best chance of getting the right diagnosis and treatment plan. It also creates a medical record of your injuries if you later make a car accident injury claim.

Medical care helps you recover

Tell your doctor that you were in a car accident. Explain how the collision happened and describe every symptom, even one that seems minor.

A doctor or other health-care provider can:

• assess your symptoms;
• diagnose your injuries;
• recommend treatment or referrals; and
• develop a plan to support your recovery.

The main reason to seek care is simple: proper treatment can help you recover.

Medical records also matter to your claim

If you make a car accident injury claim, the insurance company will look at your medical records. It may consider:

• when you first sought treatment;
• what symptoms you reported;
• what injuries were diagnosed; and
• whether you followed your treatment plan.

A long gap in treatment may give the insurer an opportunity to argue that your injuries were not serious or were not caused by the accident.

That does not mean a delayed visit ends your claim. It means you should arrange an assessment as soon as you can.

What if you did not see a doctor right away?

Book an appointment now. Tell your doctor when the accident happened, when your symptoms began and how they affect your work, sleep and daily life.

Do not minimize your symptoms. Clear and accurate information helps your doctor treat you and may also support your car accident claim.

Speak with a car accident lawyer

MacGillivray Injury & Insurance Law represents people injured in car accidents throughout Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Prince Edward Island. We also help car accident victims in other Provinces across Canada.

A car accident lawyer can explain your insurance benefits, deal with the insurance company and help you understand whether you have a personal injury claim.

Contact MacGillivray Injury & Insurance Law for a free consultation. You do not pay a legal fee unless your claim is successful.

This article provides general information and is not medical or legal advice.

About Angeli Swinamer

Angeli Swinamer is the Managing Partner of MacGillivray Injury & Insurance Law. She helps lead the firm’s work on behalf of people injured in car accidents and other incidents across Atlantic Canada and elsewhere in Canada