Reasons to Go to an Urgent Care Center After a Minor Car Accident

It’s happened. You’ve just been in a car accident. Of course, you’re feeling a bit shaken and worried about the practical and financial hurdles that might lie ahead. However, even though your vehicle is clearly damaged, you feel fine. Do you still need to see a doctor? Yes, you do.

Even if you aren’t in pain and have no obvious injuries, it’s still important to seek medical attention soon after a minor car accident—no matter how much you simply want to forget about it and move on with your life. Here are some of the reasons why:

You May Have Hidden Injuries

The stress of a car accident can cause your body to release adrenaline, which is often referred to as the “fight or flight” hormone. To prepare your body to deal with a perceived threat, adrenaline makes your heart beat faster, promotes blood flow to your muscles, and increases your alertness. However, by enhancing your concentration, adrenaline can also distract you from feeling pain. That’s why you might not become aware of an injury for several hours—or even days—after an accident.

You May Need Documentation Later

If you require medical treatment after a car accident, you’ll need detailed medical records and bills to substantiate your claim for reimbursement. For instance, you’ll need to be able to show that your injuries directly resulted from the accident and that you continually sought treatment for those injuries, as well as how much the treatment cost. Therefore, the best approach is to have a medical examination performed shortly after an accident and to keep copies of any documents or receipts you receive from your provider.

You Can Ensure That Your Medical History Is Complete

Some minor injuries may heal on their own, but others may not. An injury that doesn’t heal fully or properly may lead to complications down the road. If your injuries are not documented after a car accident, they won’t become part of your medical history, and your future doctors won’t know about them. Complete and accurate medical records are important to ensure that you receive the best possible care, both now and in the future.

Where to Go for Medical Treatment After a Minor Car Accident

If you aren’t completely certain that you’re injury-free after a minor car accident, you need to make sure. While you may not need to make a time-consuming and expensive trip to a hospital emergency room, you don’t want to wait several days or weeks for an appointment with a primary care provider, either. In non-emergency situations that do not involve head or spinal trauma, South Tampa Immediate Care is the perfect middle ground.

You are welcome to visit South Tampa Immediate Care at 602 South Howard Avenue in Tampa, FL, for minor auto injury treatment. We do not require appointments at our walk-in urgent care center, but you can check in online if you like.