Sometimes after a car accident, it is evident that you need immediate medical care. However, sometimes your injuries do not appear for a few hours, days, or even weeks after the accident – and some of these injuries can worsen or become permanent if left untreated. More than two million people in the United States suffer permanent injuries each year, and hundreds of thousands are in Florida. It is essential to see a doctor immediately after an accident, but some form of alternative treatment may also be critical to your recovery.
The most common injuries after a car accident include:
- Whiplash
- Back injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Fractured and broken bones
- Joint and muscle injuries
- Burn injuries
- Organ damage
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
Many of these injuries can be alleviated if treated promptly by a physician, physical therapist, or chiropractor. Here are some great reasons not to ignore your health after an accident.
- Avoid Surgery: One of the most important reasons to seek out medical treatment such as physical therapy or chiropractic is that they are non-invasive treatments that may help you avoid surgery. Depending on your injury, you may be able to do exercises or manipulations that can heal your body. These treatments can minimize pain and inflammation and increase strength as you recover. However, even if you need surgery, these treatments can make your recovery less challenging.
- Minimize Pain: Car accident injuries may cause minor discomfort, but they may also result in significant pain. With a treatment plan that includes physical therapy, you may be able to avoid taking medications that could potentially become addictive or have harmful side effects. Physical therapy can significantly reduce chronic pain by reducing inflammation, stabilizing joints, building endurance, increasing and strengthening muscles, and promoting overall health and well-being.
- Prevent Further Injury: Some of the more common home remedies will only soothe symptoms after an accident – but do little to address the root cause of the injury that is causing you pain. A physician – or provider of alternative treatment – should ensure that the injury is treated correctly to not cause problems down the road.
- Speed up Your Recovery: Recovery from injury can be prolonged if the patient doesn’t receive the proper treatment. A lengthy recovery can inhibit your ability to work and deplete any savings you may have. Healing can be a very complex process, and each person deals with injury differently and recovery depends on several diverse factors that a practitioner can help you with.
- Improve Your Strength: Physical therapists and chiropractors can assist recovery and benefit your health in general. Strength and balance will improve overall with stretches and strength exercises to strengthen the core. This type of exercise will make daily activities easier and even help improve and support mental health.
- Support Your Case: Seeking medical treatment after a car accident is essential for many reasons. You’ll want to have comprehensive medical records (showing that you received treatment soon after the accident) to support your insurance claims and get the best payoff possible. But you’ll also need records of your treatment if you decide to pursue a lawsuit. Alternative treatment practitioners can often provide valuable insight into your prognosis and long-term treatment options to help your settlement or reward of damages.
Preserving your quality of life after a car accident is essential. If you feel that you are not being compensated fairly by the insurance company or think you may need to sue, call the car accident attorneys at Probinsky & Cole. We will help you navigate the process and get the compensation you need to move on with your life.
