“I feel okay, just a little shaken up.”
We hear this phrase constantly. It is the most dangerous sentence in a personal injury case. Many car accident victims choose to go home and rest rather than go to the emergency room or urgent care, believing their injuries are minor.
Here is why skipping that doctor’s visit can destroy your health and your legal case.
1. Adrenaline Masks Pain
During a collision, your body enters “fight or flight” mode. It floods your system with adrenaline and endorphins, which act as natural painkillers. You might have suffered significant soft tissue damage, but you physically won’t feel it until your body calms down—often 24 to 48 hours later.
2. The “Gap in Treatment” Defense
Insurance adjusters look for any reason to deny a claim. If you wait two weeks to see a doctor because you were “toughing it out,” the insurance company will argue two things:
- You weren’t actually hurt in the accident.
- You hurt yourself somewhere else (at the gym or work) in the days following the crash. Seeing a doctor immediately creates a medical record linking the accident directly to your physical condition.
3. Hidden Injuries Can Be Fatal
Some injuries are invisible. Concussions (Traumatic Brain Injuries) and internal bleeding often have subtle symptoms like headaches or drowsiness. A medical professional can identify these “silent” injuries before they become life-threatening.
The Takeaway
Don’t play doctor. If you have been in a crash, get evaluated immediately. It is better to be told you are fine than to realize too late that you are not.
