If you’ve been in a motor vehicle collision, you’re probably wondering what to do after an accident and what doctor to see after a car accident. There are several crucial steps to take immediately following an accident to ensure that you have the best possible case when filing a personal injury claim. First and foremost, you need to make sure that your medical needs are met and that you are safe.
What to Do after an Accident
In the moments following a car crash, your head may be spinning. Plenty of thoughts come rushing in at all once. What’s the damage to my car? Am I okay? Is the other person okay? What just happened? First, check to see if you are injured in any way. Are there any cuts on your body? Can you wiggle your toes and fingers? Are you in any pain? The answers to these questions dictate your next steps.
If You’re Injured
If you’re severely injured, it’s best that you not move from where you are until emergency medical help arrives. You may injure yourself further by trying to move if you have a dislocated joint or spinal injury. EMS will be able to assess your injury on-site and transport you to emergency care. From there, you will be treated and then advised on how to find a doctor after a car accident for follow-up care.
Get Out of Harm’s Way
It’s also important to make sure that you’re out of the way of any further harm. Has your car been spun into a dangerous spot? Is it safe to remain by the vehicle? If possible, get yourself off the road and onto safe ground. Always worry about the car last. Your safety is the top priority.
Alert the Authorities
Once you’re safe, alert the authorities. Even if you believe that someone else may have done so already, call them yourself. Doing so will ensure that help arrives as quickly as possible, and it will be documented that you contacted emergency services. Documentation from law enforcement and emergency services may play a crucial role in your personal injury case later on.
Get Evaluated at the Scene of the Accident
If an EMS team is on-site, do not deny a medical evaluation. Allow them to assess you, even if you feel fine. When you’re in a car crash, your adrenaline tends to skyrocket, which can prevent you from feeling pain from injuries that are present but unseen. There’s also something known as referred pain, where you feel pain in one area of your body that results from pain in another body part altogether. EMS teams are trained in recognizing this.
Always heed the advice of the EMS team. If they advise you to go to the hospital, go immediately. Following the advice of the emergency services team and getting medical care right away is another factor that may be essential when filing a personal injury claim.
How to Find a Doctor after a Car Accident
If you’re unsure of how to find a doctor after a car accident, or what doctor to see after a car accident, there are several ways that you can go about finding one to assess and treat your injuries.
Immediate Medical Care
The best way to get treatment for your injuries and to ensure prompt documentation is to seek immediate medical care at a hospital. Whether you are transported via ambulance, drive yourself, or are brought by a friend or family member, time is of the essence when treating a car accident injury.
They will evaluate your injuries and can refer you to a doctor for continued care if needed.
Finding a Doctor the Day after an Accident
You may not seek immediate medical care following a car accident, but find yourself in pain the next day. It’s essential that if this happens, you find a doctor right away. You can contact your primary care physician, go to an urgent care center, or go to the hospital if you feel your injuries are severe enough. Make sure that you seek care as soon as possible.
Common Injuries Resulting from Car Accidents
Several common injuries can result from a car accident, and not all of them have symptoms that present immediately. You may have a concussion, which a medical professional will be able to identify right away. Don’t brush head pain off as just being “banged up,” when it could be something more serious, requiring treatment.
Other common injuries include soft tissue injuries, such as muscle damage or torn ligaments. You may notice that your legs are sore and attribute it to the impact when there is really an underlying injury that needs to be treated.
Forgoing Medical Treatment after an Accident
Opting not to have a medical evaluation after an accident is never a good idea. As you may have injuries that you don’t recognize, or may not present until later, seeing a doctor is extremely important. They will be able to proactively treat an unseen injury from the beginning, lessening the chance of further medical complications down the road.
Additionally, if you choose a personal injury attorney in Pompano Beach to file a legal claim, you will need medical records to present as evidence in court. When filing a personal injury claim, you will need to prove that your injuries resulted from an accident and that a medical professional treated them. As a large part of a personal injury claim is based on medical bills and professional opinion regarding the impact injuries will have on your daily life, this is extremely important.
Without medical evidence, you may not be able to file a personal injury claim after a car accident.
Keep All Medical Records
When filing a personal injury claim after a car accident, the most crucial part of the case will be your medical records. Keep every document, from the police report describing the scene, any papers given to you at the emergency room or urgent care center, and records from your doctor throughout continued care.
It’s not only diagnosis records that are important. Keep all records of medication costs, the cost of medical equipment, such as crutches or a wheelchair that you needed as a result of the injury, and documentation of lost wages. Your personal injury lawyer will present all of this in your case to ensure that you get the compensation you deserve.
Personal Injury Settlements from Car Accidents
If you have filed a personal injury claim after a car accident, having the best legal team representing you will provide you with the best chance of winning an adequate settlement. LJW Legal in Pompano Beach, FL, is a firm that specializes in precisely these types of cases.
Our legal team will never settle a case right away. We will fight for you to receive the compensation you deserve and help you to navigate what can be a confusing legal system.
Seek legal advice as soon as possible after a car accident. You can contact LJW Legal for a FREE case evaluation today. Our team can advise you on the next steps, and we will get to working on your personal injury settlement right away.
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