You've been injured, what do you do?

04.17.2025

By Attorney Adam Sorrentino

Accidents happen every day. You spilled milk while pouring cereal.  You missed a step going down the stairs. Your child fell off their bike and scraped their knee.

Unfortunately, more serious accidents are extremely common in our connected world. Insurance statistics show that the average American has a 1 in 366 chance of being in a car accident for every 1,000 miles they drive. Contrary to popular belief, drivers in their 30’s to 50’s are more likely to have a crash (likely due to their increased travel for work, children, etc.) Approximately 1 million Americans reported to the emergency room after having a slip or fall.

If you have had any type of accident, you know the mix of emotions and physical reactions you went through right after. Panic, shock, fear, and anger all shoot to the surface. A rush of adrenaline surges, and you feel agitated but physically fine. Your own well-being isn’t always the first thing that comes to mind.

Personal injury attorneys receive many types of calls in the days and weeks after an accident. A common conversation goes something like this:

John Doe: “Hello, is this Attorney Smith?”

Attorney Smith: “Hello, yes, this is Attorney Smith, how can I help”

John Doe: “Well, on Friday I was hit by a car while walking my dog. It was slow and I felt fine after, so I went home. Today, I woke up and my neck was killing me. What should I do?”

This might seem out of the ordinary. Many people might be screaming at Mr. Doe to go to the hospital or think that they would already be at the hospital.

Despite these thoughts, it is extremely common for people who get injured to wait a day or two before going to see a doctor. Sometimes people wait even longer. There are many different factors to explain why this happens. Sometimes people feel like their injuries aren’t severe enough to go. Sometimes they don’t feel them at all for a few days. Sometimes they are just thinking, “I will definitely get better.”

Things like costs, suspicion of doctors or insurance companies, and other social factors can also push people towards not reporting to the hospital. If you were in a car accident and your child was in the car, you were probably worried about them first before you even thought of yourself.

Despite these suspicions or concerns, it is vital that accident victims see a doctor as soon as possible after any type of accident. Many studies show that the leading causes of traumatic brain injuries (TBI’s) are falls, being struck by an object, or being involved in a traffic accident. https://www.brainline.org/slideshow/infographic-leading-causes-traumatic-brain-injury.

These types of accidents are around 75% of the causes for TBI’s. Even if you “feel fine” a substantial injury could be hiding right under the surface. It is important to visit your doctor as soon as possible so that you can get better treatment, address your concerns quickly, and help ensure the best outcome for you and your family.

Receiving the appropriate treatment is vital to a personal injury case. Medical records and bills are critical records to display your injuries, symptoms, and even the emotional toll they have had on you and your family.

If you’ve been injured and aren’t sure where to start, contact your doctor and an attorney at your earliest convenience to determine what steps to take next.