Let us say you stopped at a traffic light, but the driver behind you failed to brake in time. You are now the victim of a low-speed, rear-end collision. Except for jangled nerves, you appear to have no other injuries. Why should you seek prompt medical care?
Accident history
Based on data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, we know car crashes are responsible for 14.3 percent of all traumatic brain injuries reported annually. This equates to about 286,000 TBI cases resulting from vehicle accidents each year, and rear-end collisions cause more head injuries than you may think
About TBI
TBI takes two forms: open and closed. An open TBI occurs when a foreign object penetrates the skull and becomes lodged in the brain. A closed TBI is the most common form. It occurs if you hit your head against an object such as the steering wheel, dashboard or windshield. This is the kind of injury you may not realize you have after a rear-end collision because symptoms often do not appear right away.
Seeing a doctor
The possibility of a head injury that may be as serious as TBI is the reason you should not hesitate to see a doctor, because you may not experience any symptoms for hours, even days, following the collision. Signs of a head injury include dizziness, confusion, fatigue, unusual drowsiness, blurry vision, sensitivity to noise or light, concentration or memory issues, depression or anxiety, headaches. A diagnosis is important in terms of early treatment, but another reason for seeing a doctor promptly is because he or she will prepare a medical report. This will tie any injury you may have directly to the rear-end crash.
Exercising caution
To seek timely medical attention following a car crash is to err on the side of caution. Keep in mind that insurance companies want to see medical reports from a claimant. Since they strive to keep as much money as they can, the chances of receiving the compensation you deserve will be better if you can provide this kind of information.
