Do You Need to Go to the Emergency Room After a Crash?

The sounds of crunching metal and plastic can be terrifying. In the hours after the crash, you may still be thinking about how everything looked as your car crashed into another vehicle.

At the scene of a crash, there is often a lot of stress and adrenaline. During these moments, it can be easy to dismiss your injuries as “not that bad.” However, it is critical to seek medical attention for some injuries right away.

These are some of the times it is essential to get to the emergency room.

Did You Hit Your Head?

Head injuries can be deceiving. Often, your first symptom of a head injury is a headache which is easy to dismiss as normal.

However, when a head injury goes untreated, it can become severe very quickly. The additional benefit of getting checked out for a head injury is learning about the signs to watch for that your injury is getting worse.

Keep in mind that it is also possible to hit your head during a crash without realizing it. If you are uncertain, or there is evidence you might have hit your head, it is better to err on the side of caution and seek medical attention. Seeking care can also establish and document the link between the accident and your injuries.

Better Safe Than Sorry

While some people will rush to the doctor every time they have an illness or injury, others like to wait and watch their symptoms. When it comes to a car accident, there are many opportunities for injuries that can get worse without medical attention.

Some injuries will clearly need medical care, either at the scene or in an emergency room. However, if you are uncertain about your injuries, you should seek care right away in either an emergency room or an urgent care facility.