People who are injured in collisions frequently notice their injuries immediately. Broken bones, painful lacerations and numerous other traumatic injuries are visible or at least painful as soon as the injury occurs.
People may recognize that they need medical care when they suffer serious injuries in a collision. They can call for an ambulance (or someone else does) or may leave from the scene of the crash to seek medical care.
Other times, people walk away from collisions and only realize much later that they have injuries that need medical attention. Why is it so common for people to overlook injuries that can cost thousands of dollars to treat and can affect their ability to work?
The body responds aggressively to trauma
The human stress response is a defense mechanism that allows for survival in dangerous scenarios. The stress response hides pain and provides energy to help people fend off an attacker or flee a dangerous predator.
Unfortunately, the stress response may hide the early warning signs of injuries, which may delay a person’s decision to secure medical attention. Delays in treatment and diagnosis can affect a patient’s prognosis and can also complicate compensation claims. Car crashes as well as serious falls and other frightening, potentially dangerous incidents can trigger the stress response, making it difficult for people to accurately diagnose their injuries.
Seeing a doctor shortly after a car crash, fall or similar incident is the best way for people to ensure they receive the care they require. A prompt and accurate diagnosis makes it easier for injured people to seek compensation through personal injury litigation and recover their losses and damages as fully as possible.
