Car accident victims often choose to ignore minor pain and other symptoms caused by a car accident, even if the pain and symptoms occur within the first few hours, days, or weeks after the accident. Why? Their thinking could be something like:

• “Who’s going to pay for the visit to the doctor anyway? I can’t afford it.”
• “The pain will probably go away . . . no big deal.”
• “If I report an injury, maybe my car insurance premium will go up. I can’t afford that.”
• “I’m too embarrassed to report this minor injury to my medical doctor.”
• “Even if I see my medical doctor, what can he do anyway?”
• “Sure. I could go to a chiropractor, but then I’ll get hooked into going forever.”
• “Maybe the accident didn’t cause this pain — I’ve had something like this before, even though it was years ago. I’ll just wait and see.”
• “Maybe it’s just a coincidence, and I would have gotten this pain anyway.”
• “I don’t have time to deal with this problem. Hop from one doctor to another? I don’t think so.”
• “I don’t want to make a fuss over nothing. I hate bothering people.”
• “I’m tough. I can handle it.”
• “I can’t afford to take time off work to get examined.”
• “I don’t want my boss to find out I got hurt. Could cost me my job.”
• “I’m applying for health insurance (or a job) and don’t want a pre-existing injury to show up in my records.”
• “I was the passenger in my friend’s car. I don’t want to get her in trouble.”

As you can see, any number of concerns and worries can stop you from seeing the appropriate healthcare provider. Maybe you’re not hurt badly, but maybe you’re hurt worse than you think. What if you ignore post-accident pain and symptoms, and rather than disappearing, they significantly worsen and persist with time… long after your accident claim is closed? What if you lose wages because of the injuries you chose to ignore? What if the medical bills (how expensive is surgery these days?) keep mounting, and you can’t work to pay these bills? What if lost wages, skyrocketing bills, and stress cause family problems and even divorce? Solution: Step #1: If you have pain or other symptoms that started after a car accident, immediately seek an appropriate medical examination. Along with the healthcare provider’s advice and treatment, his or her documentation following your car accident could later prove critical for your case and for your receiving the compensation for damages and losses you deserve. Step #2: Call an excellent, trial-tested personal injury attorney and ask him or her about your accident, your injury, and your case. One quick call or face-to-face consultation today, at no charge to you of course, could ease your worries and concerns and prevent unnecessary future rough waters caused by your car accident.