Smells Like Chicken Soup. "I Know." "I Have to Go to the Hospital.

After a car accident, if you believe you are injured, seek immediate medical attention. If you are seriously injured or have a true emergency, go to an emergency room. For all other injuries, it's probably best to see your own doctor if you can be seen within a day or two, or go to an urgent care.

If you don't feel hurt at the time of the accident, but become aware of an injury later, contact your doctor as soon as possible. Not all injuries are immediately apparent, but it is very important to have a thorough medical examination as soon as you become aware of the injury.

It can be easy after a car accident to feel shock or overwhelm. You may be talking to police, assessing damage to your vehicle, exchanging information with the other driver. You may be concerned about passengers in your car. In addition, your body may be flooded with adrenaline and endorphins, chemicals that may block your pain sensors. In the midst of all that, you may not feel an injury of your own at that moment.

Some injuries that may not be noticed right away include:

• Soft tissue injuries, such as whiplash
• Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)

If at some point after the car accident, you become aware of pain, swelling, and/or reduced mobility you may have a soft tissue injury and you should contact your doctor immediately for evaluation.

If you exhibit inability to concentrate, memory difficulties, headache, clouded thinking, blurry vision, nausea, dizziness, or abnormal sleep patterns you may have a traumatic brain injury and should seek treatment immediately.

Once again, we can turn to The Office for an example. In the episode of "The Injury" [1], Michael calls the office for help because he has burned his foot on his Foreman Grill. Dwight rushes off to help him. The rest of the workers hear a crash, and when they get to the window, they see that Dwight has crashed into a pole. Dwight emerges from the driver's seat, holding his head, then vomits on the back windshield. He then gets back into the car, and drives away, leaving his bumper in the street.

Dwight returns with Michael, whose foot is encased in bubble wrap. As the work day goes on, Dwight acts stranger than usual (or strange in a different way.) He begins sentences and doesn't finish them. He calls Pam "Pan." He thinks Creed is his dad, he raises his hand to ask a question, then forgets his hand is in the air. Perhaps, weirdest of all, he's acting very nice.

Michael: Uh, finally feel the blood coursing through my foot veins.
Dwight: [hits his head on his desk] Uh, ugh, ohhhh…
Jim: Uh, ok, I think we need to take him to the hospital because I'm pretty sure he has a concussion.
Michael: Oh, now you feel some compassion for him.
Angela: He needs to go right now, and you're his emergency contact. I think that you should go with him.
Michael: Why don't you go with him?
Angela: I, barely know him…
Dwight: I want Michael to take me…
Michael: I can't take you, I don't have my car and yours is all vomity.
Meredith: You can take my van!
Michael: Oh, ok, that's, great. No, I can't drive. Jim, why don't you drive.
Jim: Fine.
Michael: We'll go. I'm still recovering. So let's just, Ryan, could you get my coat please.
Jim: Slowly, slowly. Let's just get to the elevator.
Dwight: Choo choo choo choo choo choo…
Jim: What are you doing? What, stop…
Dwight: Vietnam sounds.
Jim: [Dwight falls onto the couch] Stop, stop, stop, stop.
Dwight: Tired… [Jim grabs spray bottle from planter]
Jim: You can't lay down.
Dwight: Want to take a rake… .
Jim: Wake up. [sprays Dwight]
Dwight: Ahh!
Pam: Dwight, here, let me help you Dwight.
Jim: I'm just gonna get…
Dwight: Ok, Pam, thanks.
Pam: Get up, get up.
Dwight: You're the best.
Pam: Yeah.
Jim: Just keep him awake.
Dwight: It smells like chicken soup.
Pam: I know.
Dwight: I have to go to the hospital.
Pam: I know.
Dwight: Where we going?
Pam: I just want to say goodbye ok?
Dwight: I'll be back, I mean…
Pam: Yes, I know, but it's gonna be different.
Dwight: Why?
Pam: It's just hard to explain.
Dwight: Aw, Pam, you're adorable [taps her nose]
Pam: Oh my goodness!
Dwight: [giggles]
Pam: Come here.
Dwight: Oh, huggy hugs.

All of this is very strange behavior for Dwight Schrute, who is normally gruff and socially awkward. At the hospital, a doctor examines Dwight and orders a CAT scan.

Even one traumatic brain injury can result in long-term complications or death. Luckily for Dwight, The Office is a comedy, the symptoms appear minor, and do not recur.

If at any time after a car accident, you suspect an injury, it is vital to have a thorough medical exam, to take care of your health, and to document the issue in case it was caused by the car accident.

If you are injured in a car accident, contact the experienced car accident lawyers at Aversa & Linn as soon as possible to discuss your ability to pursue a claim.

[1] Read the full script here: Season 2 – Episode 12 "The Injury"

Smells Like Chicken Soup. "I Know." "I Have to Go to the Hospital.

Source: https://www.aversalinn.com/2021/07/when-should-i-go-to-the-hospital-following-a-car-accident/

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