Your First Steps After a Car Accident

You probably know some of the basics of what to do immediately after a car accident — from pulling over to exchanging insurance information with other affected drivers, if you safely can. But did you know that medical care should be considered, even if you walk away seemingly unscathed? Regardless, having a sense of what to do following an accident can help ensure that you take the proper steps to protect your health and well-being.

Dr. Nicholas Perenich and his team at Spine Institute of Florida in Dade City and Spring Hill specialize in treating spine-related injuries brought on by auto accidents.

Here’s a look at what to do after a crash, including signs it’s time to seek professional care.

What to do immediately after a car accident

A car accident can be scary and shocking, even if the damage to your body and vehicle seem negligible. As soon as you can after the impact, assess the situation. Check on all of the passengers in your car, including yourself. You may also need to move your car to safety.

Then it’s typically recommended that you call 911 and wait for support to arrive. Meanwhile, exchange insurance information with other drivers, if needed and possible. Documenting the accident with photos and talking to any witnesses may turn out to be helpful. You can lean on emergency personnel to help with that, too.

Once an ambulance or other support arrives, you have the right to refuse an assessment or treatment. If you’re in pain, experienced a severe impact, or simply want to be better safe than sorry, accepting some amount of care is wise.

Why some car accident injuries go unnoticed

Numerous factors can lead car accident injuries to initially go unnoticed. Firstly, the shock of an accident tends to spur a rush of adrenaline and endorphins in your body. These natural chemicals are meant to protect you, promoting a protective “fight or flight” mode in your body when danger strikes. They can also mask your symptoms, however, suppressing pain and injury awareness for a good hour.

Another factor that may make injuries difficult to detect at first involves the gradual buildup of inflammation. Whiplash, for example, may not present symptoms for the first 24 hours.

Lastly, if you go straight home and take over-the-counter pain or ice a potential injury, you might not realize that a more severe issue is lingering beneath the surface, due to blocked pain signals, reduced inflammation, or numbness.

Spine issues following a car accident

If you notice back or neck pain after a car accident or experienced a significant jolt of your head or neck, you may have a spine-related injury. In fact, many of the most common car accident injuries affect your spine, including:

Whiplash
Disc herniation
Vertebral fractures
Other trauma to your neck or back, such as lacerations or nerve damage

While mild issues may gradually resolve within several days with conservative care, such as rest, cold compresses, and pain relievers, symptoms that carry on, seem severe, or worsen should be assessed by an orthopedic spine specialist in a matter of days.

Depending on the specifics of your condition, our team at Spine Institute of Florida may recommend a back or neck brace, epidural or facet joint injections, or radiofrequency ablation. For a severe injury, we may recommend spine surgery.

To learn more about what to do after a car accident or get the care you need, call Spine Institute of Florida or schedule an appointment through our website today.