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Dr. Robbyn KeatingApr 19, 2016 11:19:58 AM5 min read

3 Common Myths About Car Accident Injuries

3 Myths About Auto Accident Injuries

Injuries can occur at any speed during impacts, even at 10 miles per hour or below.

There are 3 common accidents: read-end accidents, angle accidents, and sideswipe crashes. While they may not cause much damage, injuries still occur after these accidents.

Some injuries do not present symptoms until days or even weeks after the accident, and you want to catch any injury you may have suffered early, so the insurance company will still be responsible for your medical bills.

One common injury from car accidents is whiplash, although other minor injuries like strains, tissue damage, and bruises are also pretty common.

However, being involved in a car accident can be a little tricky.

In this blog, we discuss 3 myths about auto accident injuries and the actions you should take following a car accident.

Table of contents:

 

There are many myths when it comes to pain after an auto accident.

Most revolve around accusations of people faking injuries, but the reality is that no matter the severity of the accident, victims should seek chiropractic care immediately.

Not all injuries present symptoms immediately, and waiting too long to get medical attention often results in a lack of insurance coverage.

Related post: How Defensive Driving Can Prevent Car Accidents

Below are three of the biggest car accident myths.

1. If you can't see the injury, it must not exist.

People believe that if someone is not visibly hurt from a car accident, they are faking it to obtain insurance money.

Well, believe it or not, everyone suffering from musculoskeletal and neurological pain is not a con artist.

Insurance companies are the culprits; in this case, they have repeatedly made car accident victims who suffer from neck, shoulder, or back pain feel like liars.

They imply that suffering from common auto accident injuries is abnormal and some crimes and that these people are attempting to commit insurance fraud.

The fact of the matter is; it is extremely common to experience pain after a collision.

It is not suspicious of you to see a chiropractor and take care of your health after an accident, but rather, it is responsible and healthy.

2. If there is no serious damage to the vehicle, then no serious injury has occurred. 

Most people believe that car crash injuries are directly proportional to the damage sustained by the wrecked vehicle.

If you were involved in a tiny fender bender that barely left a scratch on your bumper but still claimed your neck hurts, be prepared for people to claim you are a fraud looking for an insurance payout.

While the truth is, no matter how small a car accident is, an injury is always possible.

The most common injuries sustained in smaller vehicle collisions are soft tissue damage, which could potentially cause ongoing arthritic issues.

It is also possible that in smaller less damaging auto accidents, that larger injuries can occur.

When an automobile does not absorb most of the impact, the people inside usually do. This often results in whiplash and body jerking.

Overall, whiplash and similar injuries are far more common in car accidents, with little to no damage to the vehicle.

 

3. If you don't feel pain immediately, then you are not injured from the crash. 

After a severe car accident, most people will feel pain from their injuries immediately, but this is not always the case.

When your body is put in a dangerous situation, your adrenaline kicks in, and you may not even notice that you are injured right away. Some injuries will why take days, weeks, or months to show symptoms.

There are a few reasons why it may take a little time for symptoms to show. There are events, and it is referred to as “pain gating.” This means that your body will focus on the biggest and most painful events, which may take a little time to show symptoms. The first is swelling and inflammation.

This occurs over time, so you may not immediately notice anything wrong. Second, people normally "take it easy" from strenuous activities after an auto accident.

Therefore, when they return to daily life and activities, they begin to notice all of their injuries and pain.

Lastly, there is something referred to as “pain gating.” This means your body will focus on the biggest and most painful injuries.

Until that particular injury subsides the multiple other, slightly less severe injures, will not be noticeable to you.

 

BONUS: Your Insurance Will Pay for Everything

Many people wrongfully assume that if they are involved in a car crash in Georgia, especially one that they did not cause, the insurance company will pay for everything.

The truth is, however, that insurance rates in Georgia are fault-based.

Fault-based means you must prove to the insurance companies that the other driver caused the accident to begin your recovery process.

Moreover, you can bet that the insurance company will try to get away with paying you as little as possible, even if that amount does not fully cover the harm you suffered.

Always remember your auto insurance company is out to make a profit. They do this by paying as little as possible for personal injury damages.

 

Visit Arrowhead Clinic for Auto Accident Injury Treatment

If you are experiencing no pain after an auto accident, it is still recommended that you see an accident doctor immediately.

This way, a doctor can thoroughly examine you to ensure nothing is wrong, or they may discover injuries that would not have shown symptoms until weeks or months later.

It is best to see an accident doctor no more than two weeks after a car crash occurs, at which point the negligent party will no longer be responsible for your medical treatments.

Now you know 3 Common Car Accident Myths about Injuries.

If you were injured in an auto accident, you should see a chiropractor ASAP so they can design a treatment plan to treat your injuries.

Call the Accident Doctors at Arrowhead Clinic today or click on the banner below for a free consultation!

Also, if you need the help of a personal injury attorney for your personal injury claims, our doctors can refer you to a law firm that will ensure the negligent driver is held responsible for your medical bills and property damage.

For more information on car accidents and how to receive fair compensation, visit www.arrowheadclinic.com.

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Dr. Robbyn Keating

Dr. Keating joined the team at Arrowhead Clinic in 2016 to continue furthering her career as a chiropractic physician. She provides manual and hands-on chiropractic spinal manipulations along with therapy techniques to help restore function and mobility in the body. She specializes in treating a variety of accident injuries along with chronic neck and back pain. Dr. Keating moved to St. Louis, Missouri, from Alberta, Canada, in 2005 to earn her Bachelors of Science degree at Lindenwood University while on an ice hockey scholarship. While in college, she excelled in ice hockey and track and field events. Upon graduation from Lindenwood University, Dr. Keating furthered her education by pursuing her Doctorate of Chiropractic at Logan College of Chiropractic. She completed her doctorate studies in 2014 and then secured a highly sought-after position at a multidisciplinary wellness facility in the St. Louis metro area. It was there she trained under a well-respected chiropractor, who helped her hone her skills and techniques in a high-volume clinic. Since moving to Georgia in 2015, in addition to running the McDonough office for Arrowhead Clinic, Dr. Keating continues her long-standing passion for playing rugby with the Atlanta Harlequins Women's Rugby team. She participates in several local ice hockey leagues and is now working on mastering her cast in fly fishing. One of Dr. Keating’s accident patients stated, “Best clinic ever. Kendall, Hannah, Chloe, and Dr. Keating are the best. They have been so helpful during my accident, I have never been through anything like this, and they are making the process so easy and understandable. Recommend this place to anyone!” Dr. Keating offers potential patients same-day, free consultations. She is available Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

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