Car accident: First 72 hours critical for pain treatment

Many crash victims in Pennsylvania decline medical treatment because they have no open wounds or fractured bones. Visible injuries are often easier to treat than those that are hidden, which are usually only diagnosed when symptoms appear. Some internal and musculoskeletal injuries can remain hidden for days or even weeks after a car accident.

Advisers say a medical evaluation within 72 hours after an auto crash is crucial — even if the crash was no more than a fender-bender. The amount of damage to the vehicle is not an indication of the damage done to the occupants. Fast response and early identification and treatment of such injuries can prevent long-term consequences such as pain, swelling and inflammation.

Unidentified whiplash injuries can cause chronic pain in the neck, shoulders and back. Headaches frequently start days or even several months after the accident, and they are not always linked to crash injuries. If the crash victim was not medically evaluated immediately after the crash, the medical expenses related to chronic headaches or other pain might not be allowed to form part of a claim for damages in a civil lawsuit.

For those reasons, a medical examination is crucial after any car accident. Gathering all the doctors’ bills, receipts for medication, therapy and tests like CT scans or MRIs is vital, along with proof of any lost workdays. An experienced Pennsylvania personal injury attorney can assist with gathering evidence to establish negligence on the part of another driver. Legal counsel can provide advocacy throughout legal proceedings and work to secure monetary recovery for financial and emotional damages within the statute of limitations.