Should You Go To The Doctor After a Car Accident?

Yes, you should see a doctor promptly after a car accident in Louisiana even if you feel fine. Hidden injuries like whiplash or internal bleeding may not show symptoms immediately. Seeking medical attention within 72 hours not only safeguards your health but also strengthens any potential injury claim by providing timely documentation.

A Tale of Two Clients

Mark was involved in an accident at Airline Highway and Ormond Boulevard in Destrehan, Louisiana. As a Louisiana car accident lawyer, I see cases like Mark’s all the time. He was headed home to Norco from his job in Metairie and was stopped at the right light. John was not paying attention to the road and was texting.

He did not notice Mark had stopped due to the red light and crashed into the back of Mark’s truck.

Mark felt a little stiff but declined the ambulance. He went home and then to work the next day and the next. He felt stiff but figured it would get better.

Before long, it was two weeks and the stiffness had not gone away. He decided to go to his doctor then.

Jennifer was on her way to work in Raceland when she was rear-ended at the red light on Highway 90 and Bayou Gauche Road in Paradis, Louisiana.

Just like Mark, it was the inattentive driving of a teenager trying to text while driving.

Jennifer felt the stiffness in her neck and back immediately.

She did not want to go in the ambulance and declined, but she went straight to urgent care after her husband picked her up from the scene.

Assuming everything else is equal – type of injury, the length of treatment, lost wages, etc. – who protected themselves better?

Should You Go To the Doctor After a Minor Car Accident?

A big mistake I see after a car wreck is what is called a delay in treatment.

A delay in treatment is failing to see a doctor – any doctor – soon after the wreck.

This is a big mistake for two important reasons.

1. You are putting your health at risk. If you have been in a wreck, you really need to be checked out by a physician. Don’t be John Wayne or your dad – you know, the tough guys who think that they are too tough to be hurt and don’t need to see a doctor. A medical doctor, chiropractor, or other health care provider is trained to take a history, examine you, and treat you if necessary. You will be better off seeing a healthcare provider and letting that provider confirm you are not injured.
2. Delaying treatment can reduce the amount of any compensation you are entitled to receive and introduces uncertainty into your claim – were you really hurt by the collision or by some other incident?

In understanding the second reason, you should know how insurance companies evaluate claims.

They use sophisticated computer programs to help determine the value of your claim based on information specific to your case.

The insurance adjuster obtains the case-specific information and feeds it into the program.

The program only works based on the information put into it and based only on this information will generate a settlement dollar amount.

Once the program speaks, the adjuster is unlikely to increase the amount significantly.

Because of this, it is very important that the data the insurance company feeds into the software is correct and complete.

Delays in treatment are sometimes known to reduce the amount of money the insurance company pays.

Not going to a doctor after an accident is such a big mistake, that it is number one on my list of 7 Deadly Sins that Can Destroy a Personal Injury Claim.

So how does a delay in treatment hurt the case? The date of first treatment is one of the first pieces of data that the insurance company will be feeding into their software.

If you have seen a physician within that time frame then you have added what is called a value driver to your score in the insurance company software.

There are more and larger value software drivers used in the software but in terms of time, this is the first important value driver that you want to have in your case profile.

What Are Signs That You Should See a Doctor After a Car Accident?

It’s easy to shrug off aches and pains after a car wreck—especially if you’re eager to get back to your day. But certain symptoms deserve a second look from a medical professional. Here’s when you shouldn’t wait:

• Persistent or new pain: If you notice pain in your neck, back, or shoulders—especially pain that shoots down your arm or leg—don’t ignore it. This can signal issues beyond ordinary muscle soreness, like whiplash or nerve injury.
• Numbness or tingling: Any tingling, numbness, or “pins and needles” sensations are not normal after a wreck. These symptoms might suggest nerve compression or damage, and they’re your body’s way of flashing a warning sign.
• Weakness or trouble moving: If you find that your grip is weaker, you’re tripping, or a limb feels heavy, it’s time to get checked out. Even subtle changes in strength or coordination can indicate a more serious injury.

Long story short: if something feels off after an accident, don’t try to tough it out. A quick visit to a doctor can bring peace of mind and help catch injuries before they get worse.

How Many Days Do You Have To Go To the Doctor After a Car Accident?

Here’s the main takeaway: get checked out, preferably within 72 hours of the collision, to make sure you receive care if you need it and protect yourself in case a personal injury claim needs to be made.

Often, accident victims don’t realize how injured they are until a day, or even two or three days, after the accident.

Sometimes it’s weeks before they realize that the lingering pain, stiffness, or soreness that they assumed would go away, hasn’t stopped at all.

But it is essential to seek medical care as soon as possible, both to determine the level of injury and receive proper treatment, and to strengthen your personal injury case later on.

If you wait more than a week to see a doctor, you’ve just told the insurance company that your injury isn’t that bad.

What Treatments Can a Doctor Provide for Pain After a Car Accident?

If you’re feeling sore, stiff, or in pain after a car accident, a healthcare provider can do much more than simply tell you to “walk it off.” Even if you think your discomfort will fade on its own, a doctor’s visit can make a world of difference.

During your visit, your doctor will thoroughly evaluate your symptoms and may order imaging—such as X-rays or an MRI—to check for injuries that aren’t obvious at first glance. Sometimes you’ll be referred to specialists like orthopedists or neurologists, depending on what’s going on.

When it comes to relief, it’s not just about medication (though you may receive prescriptions for pain or muscle relaxers if you need them). Doctors often recommend physical therapy, chiropractic care, or targeted exercises to speed up your recovery. In certain cases, they might suggest other treatments like injections to control pain or reduce inflammation.

The bottom line: When you see a doctor after an accident, you’re not only getting an expert opinion on the seriousness of your injuries, but you’re also opening the door to a full range of treatments aimed at helping you heal and get back to normal as quickly as possible.

What Kind of Assessment Will the Doctor Do After a Car Accident?

If you see a doctor for accident-related back or neck pain, expect a thorough evaluation—not just a glance and a “You’ll be fine.” The doctor will start by asking detailed questions about your symptoms and the circumstances of the crash. They’ll check your range of motion, look for areas of tenderness, and may test your reflexes and strength. If your symptoms are more than just mild soreness or if you’re experiencing numbness, tingling, or weakness, imaging tests like X-rays, MRIs, or even CT scans might be ordered. These tests help spot issues like fractures, herniated discs, or soft tissue injuries that aren’t obvious on the outside.

It’s not about overreacting—these assessments are how injuries that aren’t always visible right away can be found and treated early. Skipping them could mean missing something serious.

When Should You See a Back Specialist or Neurologist After a Car Accident?

If your initial visit to a doctor turns up any signs or symptoms that could indicate more serious injury—persistent pain, numbness, tingling, weakness, or radiating discomfort—the next step may be a referral to a specialist. This could mean seeing an orthopedic doctor for ongoing back problems, or a neurologist if there’s concern about nerve involvement or spinal injury.

Your primary care physician or urgent care provider will likely conduct a thorough exam and may order imaging, such as X-rays or an MRI, to rule out fractures or disc injuries. If those tests suggest anything outside the realm of routine strain or sprain, you’ll be in better hands with a specialist who can dig deeper and tailor your treatment. This isn’t about being dramatic; it’s about protecting your long-term health and making sure any hidden injuries are caught early—before they become bigger problems.

What Pre-Existing Conditions Can a Car Accident Make Worse?

Many folks walk around every day with conditions that don’t bother them—until, that is, a car accident shakes things up. Even a seemingly minor wreck can aggravate old issues you might not have thought about in years. Some common pre-existing conditions that often get worse after a car accident include:

• Arthritis – If you’ve got joint pain or inflammation in your neck, back, or other areas, the trauma of a crash can spark a flare-up, making things more painful than before.
• Degenerative disc disease – Wear and tear in your spine tends to get worse when jolted; an accident can accelerate symptoms like back or neck pain.
• Spinal stenosis – This narrowing of the spinal canal often goes unnoticed until a sudden impact increases pressure on nerves, bringing about new aches or tingling.
• Previous spinal surgeries or fusions – Hardware or already-healing areas are especially sensitive, and it’s not unusual to develop new discomfort after a collision.
• Pinched nerves (radiculopathy) – Old nerve injuries can stir up trouble again, sometimes causing new pain, numbness, or weakness days after the crash.

In fact, even if you’ve been living perfectly fine with one of these issues, an accident can wake up symptoms you haven’t felt in years. That’s another reason to see a doctor sooner rather than later—it’s easier to document the difference the accident made, and helps your claim line up with what’s really going on.

Don’t Wait To Protect Your Health and Your Rights!

A medical doctor, chiropractor, or other health care provider is trained to take a history, examine you, and treat you if necessary. You will be better off seeing a healthcare provider and letting that provider confirm you are not injured. This doesn’t mean you always have to rush to the emergency room. Getting checked out can be done at an urgent care center or by your primary care provider. The important thing is to get evaluated promptly, no matter how minor you think the accident was.

If that nagging pain doesn’t go away, and you wait weeks to get it checked out, the insurance company is not going to want to pay. They will claim the injury is not a result of the accident. A strong legal team can argue against this, but documented medical treatment is always the best course of action for your claim and for your health.

Get a professional evaluation today to ensure you’re taken care of. Your health and compensation may depend on it.