Tips For Selecting a Doctor After a Car Accident

A car accident can result in both emotional and physical harm. They almost always lead to shock, whether it lasts only a few minutes or a few days. Along with this shock comes an adrenaline rush, which can mask the pain of physical injuries. In some ways, it’s very handy because the adrenaline allows us to focus on the immediate tasks necessary after a car accident, like moving safely out of traffic, checking for serious injuries, and calling the police. After your mind has calmed down and had time to process the accident, you may notice aches and pains that weren’t there before the accident. One of the most common pieces of advice you’ll hear from well-wishers is to “go see a doctor”. How you go about selecting a doctor after an accident depends on your injury or pain.

Doctors Who Can Help After A Car Accident

Even if you aren’t in pain or think your pain is a mild, temporary discomfort that will go away with time, you should still make an appointment to see a medical professional. Many injuries are unnoticed at the time, but can cause pain and even disability days, weeks, months, and even years later. A doctor can give you an exam to rule out serious injury or to diagnosis whatever injury is plaguing you, then get you started on a recovery plan. When selecting a doctor, consider these choices:

• Emergency Rooms (ER). This is where you should go for life-threatening, serious injuries. If you have a sudden severe headache, dizziness, broken bones, and large open wounds or contusions get to the ER right away. In the immediate aftermath of an accident, an ambulance can transport you to the ER. If the symptoms arise later on, ask someone to drive you there or call an ambulance yourself.
• Primary Care Physician (PCP). If you have a PCP and the injury is not ER-worthy, you may want to make this your first choice. Your PCP will be familiar with your medical history and can conduct a full exam. They can also make referrals to specialists like chiropractors, physical therapists, or neurologists and order imaging tests to aid the diagnosis. Many people feel more comfortable seeing a familiar face after a car accident and trust their PCPs more than doctors they don’t know.
• Physical Therapist. Physical therapists are a good choice if you are stiff or have a limited range of motion or trouble moving. These health care providers use a combination of therapies to loosen, relax, and strengthen muscles so that your body can help repair itself. A physical therapist focuses on body mechanics, which may involve the treatment of bones, joints, muscles, tendons, and tissues so your body can get back to its normal mode of operation and movement.

After your initial exam and diagnosis, any of these medical professionals may recommend imaging tests or other therapies or refer you to specialists to support your recovery. All of them should look for signs of concussion and brain injury in addition to whiplash, disc injuries, and muscle or joint injuries. Always be completely honest about your symptoms and their severity as it will help aid diagnosis and recovery. This includes any emotions or fear you may be feeling related to the accident. Selecting a doctor may mean more than just choosing a medical doctor, counseling and therapy may be needed after an accident, too.

Car Accident Injuries May Entitle You To Compensation

If you have been injured in an auto accident, you may be able to file an insurance claim or a personal injury claim to help cover the cost of medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Contact the personal injury team at Madison’s Eisenberg Law Offices for a free consultation by calling 608-256-8356 or emailing Info@eisenberglaw.org.