Kibbey Wagner Injury & Car Accident Lawyers | February 10, 2025 | Personal Injury
Have you ever heard of someone discovering they have a broken bone even after receiving a negative X-ray? X-rays, also called “radiographs,” are valuable diagnostic tools, but you could still have a fracture or another injury even if X-rays are negative. Studies have found that X-rays can miss traumatic fractures under certain conditions.
Seeking medical care after a car accident or any type of impact accident is a smart move. Your doctor will recommend diagnostic tests to look for any injuries, but that’s only part of the diagnostic process. Pain or other symptoms could be a sign of an injury the X-ray didn’t identify.
What Are X-Rays?
X-ray machines use high-energy electromagnetic radiation to make digital images. They are the most commonly used diagnostic tools because they provide healthcare professionals with information about what’s happening inside the body.
If you visit an emergency room after a slip and fall accident or sports injury and are experiencing specific symptoms, the physician will likely order X-rays, sometimes alongside other diagnostic tests. Your primary care provider can also order X-rays and other tests to be performed at an imaging center. Some doctors’ offices have radiography technology on-site.
X-rays can typically detect these injuries and medical conditions:
- Broken bones
- Dental damage
- Some types of infections
- Herniated spinal discs
- Skull damage
Some accident victims wonder, “Can an X-ray show internal bleeding?” It might, but X-rays are not the best imaging technology for seeing damage in soft tissues. If you exhibit warning signs of internal bleeding, your doctor might order more advanced imaging, such as a computed tomography (CT) scan.
What Does a Negative X-Ray Mean? Is It Always Right?
When an X-ray is negative, it means that a physician did not see any signs of injury. However, there might still be a problem that did not show up on the scan.
Medical tests are highly reliable, but they are not infallible. For example, the damaged area may have been in a place difficult for the X-ray to photograph and, therefore, didn’t show up on the scan. Alternatively, soft tissue injuries to the nerves and cartilage are not visible on X-rays. They are best diagnosed with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
Human error can also be a factor. A radiologist or emergency physician could interpret the information incorrectly and fail to provide a valid diagnosis.
Communication can also be a factor, especially in emergency situations. A victim of a pedestrian accident could be too distressed to identify their symptoms accurately, and the physician who is reading the X-ray might not know where to look for signs of injury.
I’m Still Having Pain, But My X-Ray Is Negative — Now What?
If your X-ray is negative but your symptoms are getting worse, talk to your doctor. Your physician might recommend a different type of diagnostic test. If you have discussed your symptoms and feel you’re being ignored, seek a second opinion. No one should have to live with pain or loss of function because they didn’t get the right diagnostic tests.
Also, consider scheduling a consultation with a personal injury attorney. You may have a right to financial compensation if your injury was caused or worsened by someone else’s negligence, including that of medical personnel.
A Negative X-Ray May Not Tell the Whole Story
What does it mean when X-rays are negative? If you’re experiencing pain, limited mobility, or discomfort, it could mean the diagnosis was incorrect. Speak with your healthcare provider about your condition and get a second opinion if you feel it’s needed. Don’t let anyone tell you everything is fine when your body is telling you something is wrong.
Contact Kibbey Wagner Injury & Car Accident Lawyers For Help Today
For more information, please contact the Stuart, Port St. Lucie, or Palm Beach Gardens personal injury law firm of Kibbey Wagner Injury & Car Accident Lawyers to schedule a free consultation today.
We proudly serve Martin County, St. Lucie County, Palm Beach County, and its surrounding areas in Florida:
Kibbey Wagner Injury & Car Accident Lawyers Stuart
73 SW Flagler Ave
Stuart, FL 34994
(772) 444-7000
Kibbey Wagner Injury & Car Accident Lawyers Port St. Lucie
1100 SW St. Lucie West Blvd. Ste 202
Port St Lucie, FL 34986
(772) 247-3374
Kibbey Wagner Injury & Car Accident Lawyers Palm Beach Gardens
300 Avenue of the Champions Ste 220
Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33418
(561) 944-4000
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