In reality, most car wreck victims should visit the Emergency Room after any serious accident. However, every car accident is different and injuries can vary greatly from person to person. In the end, it is up to you to get the medical care you require after any semi-truck, motorcycle or automobile accident. Here are a few additional reasons why seeking medical attention after any accident is paramount, and how treatment after the ER may help more than you think.
Self-Diagnosing Car Accident Injuries
One of the biggest mistakes patients make after any collision is attempting to self-diagnose their injuries. For starters, accident victims are often in shock and pain, making it difficult to clearly identify the source of their injuries. Moreover, swelling and inflammation are the body’s natural response to trauma, which oftentimes confuses symptoms of deeper injuries. The Emergency Room will oftentimes provide Ultra Sound to help control and reduce inflammation.
With this in mind, always remember that many automobile accident injuries are not immediately noticeable. For example, whiplash and some soft tissue injuries can take several days and even weeks to fully feel. However, soft tissue damage may result in permanent if not long-term pain without proper medical care. The Emergency Room will help identify potential soft tissue injuries and generally provides medication for temporary pain relief.
Finally, a visit to the Emergency Room will begin the documentation process for your injury claim. Every personal injury case will be influenced by the amount of pain and suffering, and delays in treatment sends a message that you are not injured. A visit to the ER will help prevent additional injuries, and help satisfy the insurance company. In summary, the Emergency Room is oftentimes the best and first choice after any serious automobile collision.
Paying for a visit to the Emergency Room after a Car Accident
As mentioned, every automobile collision is different which is why there is no easy answer for the potential costs of visiting the ER. However, the Emergency Room is generally available for all serious car accident victims, regardless of potential payment options. If available, the Emergency Room will commonly collect payment from the insurance company of the at fault party. PIP provides payment directly from the insurance company, whereas many states will require a personal injury claim with an attorney.
Regardless of payment, you should always choose the Emergency Room if you have significant injuries after any collision. You can always fix your vehicle or get a new job, but you only have one body. The Emergency Room has the diagnostic imaging needed to diagnose broken bones or other serious injuries. Moreover, you can generally get into the ER directly following your accident, oftentimes by ambulance.
Medical Care after the Emergency Room
For those who don’t know, the ER will not provide long-term medical care after your car, bus or motorcycle accident. Generally speaking, the Emergency Room will diagnose and treat any urgent collision injuries. However, the ER will not provide follow up treatment, and will likely suggest seeking further medical care from an accident Doctor. Your challenge is finding an injury Clinic that provides an integrated approach to medical care from a team of Doctors.
Our experience has shown that not all injury Clinics are made the same. Said differently, there are ways to choose between a good and bad accident Clinic. For starters, make sure that the Clinic provides complete diagnostic imaging in case you need an MRI or MRI. Next, find out if the Clinic offers integrated treatment from a team of Medical Doctors, Chiropractors and Physical Therapists who specialize in automobile accident injuries.
Finally, not all Physicians will treat automobile accident injuries, primarily due to the billing required. For instance, your family Physician will generally accept Medicare or other healthcare insurance for payment. Whereas, an injury Doctor will always accept automobile insurance, PIP, Med Pay and Letters of Protection from an attorney. For this reason, you should always ask if the injury Clinic accepts automobile insurance before scheduling treatment.
What if I don’t visit the Emergency Room after my car wreck?
There is no law that says you must visit the Emergency Room after an automobile accident. However, the ER can help support your personal injury claim as you can document your injuries. On the other hand, you can still seek medical care if you don’t visit the Emergency Room. All good injury Clinics should provide access to a full suite of diagnostic imaging, and access to Medical treatment from a trained Accident Doctor.
Always remember that the insurance company will be patiently watching to see if you seek treatment after any accident. To say the least, time is not on your side after any collision, which is why you should always satisfy the insurance company. A visit to the ER is always your decision; however, delays in medical care could damage your personal injury claim. You can always get medical care after any car wreck, regardless of receiving treatment in the ER.
There are many reasons why patients will decline a visit to the Emergency Room after an automobile collision. Possible reasons include exposure to disease, minor injuries or even fear of knowing the extent of the damage. As mentioned, accident damage can take several days and even weeks to feel, and may result in long-term pain without attention. This is why we recommend seeing a Doctor within 72 hours after any motorcycle or car accident.
Will a trip to the Emergency Room increase my personal injury case value?
As a general rule, your personal injury claim will be consistent with your pain, suffering and treatment. While not mandatory, the Emergency Room will help document your injuries and the potential treatment needed. Again, the insurance company watches to see if you visit the ER and seek medical care to determine the extent of your injuries. Furthermore, your personal injury claim will be calculated on the treatment required to get you back to full health.
In addition to the Emergency Room, you most likely need long-term medical care and rehabilitation after a serious car wreck. Make sure to continue with all recommended treatment as gaps in treatment can be used against you. In summary, seeking medical care will help satisfy the insurance company and support your personal injury claim, but will also prevent additional pain and suffering.
In conclusion, you should always visit the Emergency Room if you have noticeable pain after any car accident. However, you will likely need to find an accident Doctor for long-term treatment and rehabilitation. Whether you have been seen in the ER or not, contact a Doctor if you or someone you love were injured in a car wreck.
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