How Do I Know if I’m Injured After a Car Accident?

How to recognize if you’re actually injured — especially when pain is delayed.

Dr. Barry Marks, Chiropractor, Car Accident Injury Expert
ORANGE, CA

“Do I need to see a doctor if I feel fine?”

Many victims don’t realize injuries like whiplash or soft tissue damage may not show up for hours, days or even weeks after an accident. Immediately after an accident, adrenaline may mask your pain so you may not feel much. Therefore, seeing a doctor who is specially trained to find whiplash injuries is important. If you are injured then treatments can start right away to help heal you. Delaying treatment, not only delays healing, but can also negatively affect any claims you have with the insurance company.

“How do I know if I have whiplash?”

The most common symptoms you may have after a car accident are neck pain or stiffness, headaches, dizziness, body aches and pains similar to the flu, difficulty concentrating, and irritability — an important thing to know is whiplash can happen even in low-speed crashes.

“Will my injuries get worse over time if I don’t treat them?”

When your muscles, ligaments, and joints are injured, they may heal improperly with excess scar tissue leading to chronic pain, degeneration, or reduced mobility. The earlier the treatment, and the right type of treatment, the greater your chance of recovering without impairment or disability.

“What should I do next if I’ve had an accident?”

Make an appointment to be evaluated by a doctor specializing in car accident diagnosis and treatment. They can guide you through the process. If the accident was caused by someone else, your evaluation and treatment will usually be at no up front cost to you.