Were you just in a wreck and asking yourself what to do after a car accident injury?
There are 6 million car accidents in the United States every year, and 3 million of those accidents involve an injury. That’s half of the total accidents.
Even if you have no visible signs of injury, you may still have cause for concern. An injury may not present itself until well after the crash has happened. So what can you do when you need to get checked out?
Read on below to learn how to make sure you stay healthy after your accident.
Take it Easy For a While
Even in minor accidents, your body will likely undergo some trauma from the impact. It needs time to rest and repair.
Here are a few tips for you to keep in mind when recovering after an accident:
- Limit your physical activity
- Get enough sleep every night
- Make sure you have a good diet
- Drink plenty of water throughout the week
- Take vitamins if you think you aren’t getting enough in your diet
Making sure your body has what it needs to function correctly will help its recovery and get you back on your feet faster.
Don’t Wait to Get Checked Out
Did you know that delaying getting diagnosed with an injury can be grounds for insurance not to pay out the claim?
You need to start this process within 14 days of the accident to insure you don’t loose your right to make a claim. Even if you are only suffering from a little soreness or stiffness, it can be a sign of a bigger problem.
When you start the recovery process quickly, you are establishing a chain of events that link the accident to your injury. When you create this link, it is hard for your insurance company to ignore.
Find a Doctor to Diagnosis Your Condition
You can’t get treatment if you don’t know what’s wrong. Make sure you seek help at an immediate care facility or your primary physician.
While you may not be able to see the problem yourself, a doctor will be able to determine what the problem is and what you need to do about it.
Contact a Physical Therapist for Treatment
Once your doctor clears you, it is time to start managing your injury.
A physical therapist will provide you several services that can help treat your injury and help manage your pain. They can help in the following ways:
- Manual therapy to help with pain in muscles, joints, and ligaments
- Speed up your recovery time by helping improve your mobility and function
- Prevent chronic injury symptoms by doing constant work on your affected areas
- Prevent the need for surgery by stopping minor issues from turning serious
- Vasopneumatic devices to reduce swelling in problem areas
With these treatment options available, a good therapist will give you the right path to follow to recover from your injury.
What to Do After a Car Accident Injury: Final Thoughts
Now that you know what to do after a car accident injury don’t waste any more time.
Schedule an appointment with a physical therapist today to see how they can help. Contact us today to schedule an get things started!