If you’ve been in a car accident, seeking medical attention should be your top priority—even if you don’t feel immediate pain. Delaying treatment can lead to long-term health issues and weaken your injury claim if you decide to pursue compensation.
In some states, like those with Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage, waiting too long to see a doctor could result in out-of-pocket medical expenses.
Here’s where to go, when to seek treatment, and why immediate care is crucial after a car accident.
Should I Go to the Emergency Room After a Car Accident?
🚑 You should go to the ER if:
✔ You have severe pain, bleeding, fractures, or head trauma.
✔ You experience dizziness, numbness, confusion, or loss of consciousness.
✔ You were in a high-impact crash and want immediate evaluation.
Even if you don’t feel injured, the ER can detect hidden injuries through X-rays, MRIs, and CT scans. More importantly, your visit will be documented, which can help your insurance claim.
📌 Pro Tip: Tell the ER staff that your injuries are due to a car accident so they properly document your case and bill the correct insurance. In most personal injury cases they will file a lien.
Where Else Can I Get Checked After a Car Accident?
If your injuries are not life-threatening, you have several options:
1. Accident Injury Clinics (Chiropractors, Orthopedic & Physical Therapy Centers)
🔹 Best for: Soft tissue injuries, whiplash, back pain, and long-term injury treatment.
✔ Specialize in car accident injuries and accept PIP, Med Pay, or attorney liens.
✔ Provide ongoing rehabilitation and pain relief.
✔ Doctors understand personal injury claims and document injuries correctly.
📌 Pro Tip: Many family doctors do not accept auto accident cases due to third-party billing complexities. Always ask in advance if the doctor accepts PIP or Med Pay.
2. Urgent Care Centers
🏥 Best for: Moderate injuries like sprains, whiplash, mild concussions, and muscle pain.
✔ Faster than the ER and lower wait times.
✔ Can provide X-rays and pain management.
✔ May not accept third-party billing, meaning you might have to pay upfront.
3. Primary Care Physician (PCP)
👨⚕️ Best for: Minor injuries or follow-up care.
✔ Can provide referrals to specialists for further treatment.
✔ May not accept auto accident billing, meaning you’ll need to pay and request reimbursement.
✔ Limited diagnostic tools—most don’t offer X-rays or MRIs.
Table of contents
- Should I Go to the Emergency Room After a Car Accident?
- Where Else Can I Get Checked After a Car Accident?
- 4. Specialists (Neurologists, Orthopedists, Pain Management Doctors)
- How Soon Should I See a Doctor After an Accident?
- Do I Need an Attorney Before Seeing a Doctor?
- Should I Get Checked Even If I Don’t Feel Pain?
- Common Symptoms After a Car Accident
- Questions to Ask Your Doctor After an Accident
- Final Thoughts: Where to Go After a Car Accident
Make an appointment
4. Specialists (Neurologists, Orthopedists, Pain Management Doctors)
🏥 Best for: Severe back, neck, or spinal injuries.
✔ Recommended if pain persists beyond a few weeks.
✔ Can diagnose nerve damage, herniated discs, and other complex injuries.
✔ Often requires a referral from an accident doctor or attorney.
How Soon Should I See a Doctor After an Accident?
⏳ Ideally, within 72 hours.
🚨 Why?
✔ Delaying treatment can worsen injuries and prolong recovery.
✔ Insurance companies may deny claims if there are gaps in treatment.
✔ Some states with PIP coverage (like Florida & New York) require treatment within 14 days to qualify for benefits.
Even if you don’t feel pain immediately, soft tissue injuries like whiplash can take days or weeks to appear. Getting checked early ensures proper diagnosis and documentation.
Do I Need an Attorney Before Seeing a Doctor?
🤔 Not always, but it depends on your state.
✔ In PIP states, you don’t need an attorney to receive treatment. Your medical bills are covered up to your policy limit.
✔ In non-PIP states, many doctors require an attorney’s Letter of Protection (LOP) before treatment.
✔ If your injuries are severe and you expect a lawsuit, an attorney can help coordinate medical care and payment options.
📌 Pro Tip: Ask your accident doctor for attorney recommendations if you need legal assistance. Doctors and attorneys often work together in injury cases.
Should I Get Checked Even If I Don’t Feel Pain?
Yes! Many car accident injuries have delayed symptoms, including:
🔹 Whiplash – Stiffness and pain may take 24–48 hours to appear.
🔹 Concussions – Symptoms like headaches and dizziness can be delayed.
🔹 Herniated Discs – May cause back pain, numbness, or tingling weeks later.
🔹 Soft Tissue Injuries – Can worsen if not treated early.
📌 Key Takeaway: Don’t wait until symptoms appear—get checked ASAP to avoid long-term issues.
Common Symptoms After a Car Accident
✅ Physical Symptoms:
✔ Neck & back pain (whiplash, herniated discs)
✔ Headaches, dizziness, nausea (concussions)
✔ Tingling, numbness, weakness (nerve damage)
✔ Muscle stiffness, swelling, bruising (soft tissue injuries)
✅ Emotional & Cognitive Symptoms:
✔ Trouble concentrating, memory issues
✔ Sleep disturbances, anxiety, depression
✔ PTSD-like symptoms (flashbacks, fear of driving)
Questions to Ask Your Doctor After an Accident
📌 Before receiving treatment, ask your doctor these key questions:
✔ Do you accept auto insurance (PIP, Med Pay, third-party billing)?
✔ What types of diagnostic tests will you perform (X-rays, MRI, CT scans)?
✔ Do I need a referral to a specialist?
✔ Will my treatment plan be documented for my insurance claim?
✔ How long will my recovery take?
🚨 Pro Tip: Avoid doctors who refuse to document injuries properly—this could hurt your claim.
Final Thoughts: Where to Go After a Car Accident
🚗 Key Takeaways:
✔ Seek medical care ASAP (within 72 hours) to prevent complications.
✔ Go to the ER for severe injuries—urgent care or an accident doctor for minor/moderate ones.
✔ Don’t wait for symptoms—some injuries take days to appear.
✔ Choose a doctor who accepts auto insurance billing (PIP, Med Pay, LOP).
✔ Documentation is critical—insurance companies look for delays & gaps in treatment.
🔹 Need an accident doctor? Find a trusted injury clinic or specialist near you to start your recovery today!
I love your advice to get checked out by a medical professional immediately after your accident. That way, they can catch anything before it gets really bad. My sister got into a wreck last week and she is experiencing some pain, so she needs to find a great attorney that can settle this issue for her.
Car accident chiropractic care and while your doctor may prescribe pain medication to lessen the degree of pain, regular exercise and physical therapy is the primary method of treatment for whiplash. Other methods of treatment recommended by the accident and injury chiropractic specialists may include heat and cold treatment, lidocaine injections, collars, acupuncture, joint manipulation, or massage. It sounds dangerous and it maybe just a bumpy jerk from the care accident chiropractic care should be assessed right away so you can check any long-term effect. I knew someone who had the accident but some weird reason her posture changed and looked lordotic.
Thanks for explaining that you will want to get checked out within at least 72 hours after getting a car crash. That is great to know that it can help you know if you need to get any treatment. Also, it does seem like you would get recommendations on who to go see to help you manage the injures related to the crash as well. Personally, I would want to know where a good chiropractor is located to help with whiplash.