5 Mistakes to Avoid after an Auto Accident

A Guest Post By: Dr. Alison Bremner

Have you been injured in an auto accident? If so, here are 5 mistakes you should absolutely avoid.

For more information on how Dr. Bremner can help you visit: alisonbremner.com

Don’t make these mistakes!

1. Not Getting Care

If you have ever been in a car accident you know how much adrenaline can run through your body. Your hands may shake, your blood will be pumping and you will be wide awake. Many times people get into an accident and just “walk away.” Just because you don’t feel any pain right after the accident doesn’t mean that you won’t down the road. Because you have so much adrenaline running through your body, your symptoms may be masked. Did you know that you can have symptoms related to whiplash in a car accident years after it happens? This is because tissue gets damaged in the accident and can alter the way your neck and back move. This loss of function can cause many problems later, including neck pain, back pain, headaches, and vertigo.

2. Not filing a claim

Most car insurance policies have medical coverage you can use to get care after a car accident. Since many times symptoms don’t appear right away, failure to file a claim may mean you won’t be able to use that medical coverage later. In Colorado, most people have $5,000-$6,000 they can use for medical treatment regardless of liability. Often this medical coverage allows you to choose what kind of doctor you want to see, including doctors in private practice. This allows you to receive treatment from experts who handle car accident patients.

3. Immobilizing your neck for too long

After a bad car accident emergency doctors may send you home with a soft collar to relieve some pain. This is important to help healing. However, immobilizing the area for too long can actually slow your healing. If there is not a fracture movement is actually good for the joints. It may sound counter-intuitive to introduce movement when you are still in pain, but your body is meant to move. Movement in your joints can bring blood and nutrients to the area to help with healing. This will also slow down the formation of scar tissue and can prevent decreased range of motion. A decrease in range of motion can cause chronic pain. It can be difficult to monitor your healing process yourself and it difficult to know exactly when to start movement. To help you along the healing process you should follow the recommendations of your doctor.

4. Not seeking specialized care

Not all medical providers specialize in auto accidents. You should ask your provider: “do you take care of people after they have been in a car accident?” “Do you have a protocol when treating whiplash?” These are important questions to ask. Symptoms after a car accident are not always easy to manage. You want someone who knows what they are doing and someone who is confident that they can get you back on track after a car accident.

5. Not hiring a lawyer

In some cases you might need more care than insurance wants to pay for. After an accident it is hard to calculate the full impact any injuries may have on your life and what the total cost will be to you. A personal injury attorney can help you get the money you need to cover treatment costs, and other appropriate compensation. My personal recommendation is Ready Law. Vern Ready is client-focused and will make this whole process as easy as possible. Give him a call and he will tell you if he can help.

I hope these tips were helpful for you. If you have any questions you can always call my office at 303-442-5911 or go to my website at alisonbremner.com.

Yours in Health,

Dr. Alison Bremner