There are many myths and a lot of misinformation when it comes to pain and injury after a car accident.
Most myths revolve around the idea of people faking injuries after accidents.
The reality is that no matter the severity of the accident, or how people feel immediately after the accident, they should seek chiropractic care immediately.
Here's why you should see a chiropractor after a car accident in Lithia Springs.
Not all injuries present symptoms immediately, and if you wait too long to get medical attention, your injuries can worsen.
You could also lose insurance coverage.
In the article below, we will discuss three major car accident injury myths that we hear in our Lithia Springs office.
Table of Contents
- You Have To See an Injury
- If The Car Isn't Totaled, You Weren't Hurt
- You Must Feel Pain Right Away
- Visit Arrowhead Clinic for Auto Accident Injury Treatment
You Have To Be Able To See an Injury
Many people believe that an injury has to be gruesome to be real.
They think that if someone is not visibly hurt from a car accident, they must be faking it to obtain insurance money.
However, soft tissue injuries that are very common in car accidents aren't visible.
Everyone suffering from musculoskeletal and neurological pain is not "faking it."
Insurance companies tend to make car accident victims who suffer from neck, shoulder, or back pain feel like liars.
To keep from paying out, insurance companies like to imply that suffering from common car accident injuries is abnormal.
The fact of the matter is that it is extremely common to experience pain after a collision.
It is not suspicious or uncommon to want to see a chiropractor and take care of your health after an accident.
It is the right thing to do, and it's responsible and healthy.
If The Car Isn't Totaled, You Weren't Hurt
Most people judge car accidents based on the severity of the damage to the cars.
They think that car crash injuries are in direct proportion to the amount of damage sustained by the wrecked vehicle.
Many people think fender benders don't hurt or cause any injury.
If your accident barely left a scratch on your bumper, but still claim your neck hurts, be prepared for people to call you a fraud that's just looking for an insurance payout.
The truth is that no matter how small a car accident is, an injury is always possible.
The most common injuries sustained in smaller vehicle collisions are soft tissue injuries.
Soft tissue injuries can cause a long list of problems if they aren't treated right away, including on-going arthritic issues.
When the car does not absorb the majority of an impact, the people inside usually do.
This often results in whiplash and bodies being tossed around.
Whiplash and similar injuries are actually far more common in car accidents with little to no damage to the vehicle.
You Must Feel Pain Right Away
After a severe car accident, many people will feel pain from their injuries immediately, but not everyone.
After a car accident, your adrenaline kicks in, and you may not even notice that you've suffered any injuries.
Some injuries even take days, weeks, or months to show symptoms.
Swelling and inflammation is the main reason some injuries take a while to produce symptoms.
This takes place over time, so you may not immediately notice anything wrong.
Another reason it takes a while to notice injuries is because people usually "take it easy" from strenuous activities after a car accident.
So when they finally return to daily life and activities, they begin to notice all of their injuries and pain.
Lastly, is something referred to as "pain gating."
Pain gating is when your body focuses on the most significant and most painful of the injuries.
So until that particular injury subsides, the other, less severe injures, will not be noticeable to you.
Visit Arrowhead Clinic for Auto Accident Injury Treatment
If you are experiencing pain after a car accident, you should always see an accident doctor immediately.
Even if you don't feel pain, you should still seek medical treatment.
A doctor should thoroughly examine you to ensure nothing is wrong or discover an injury that might not have shown symptoms until weeks or months later.
It is best to see an accident doctor no more than two weeks after a car crash occurs, but the sooner, the better.
If you or someone you know was injured in a car accident in Lithia Springs, call our Lithia Springs Car Accident Doctors today.
Or click on the button below for a free accident injury consultation.