Should I Go to the ER After a Collision?

Collisions involving cars, trucks, and other vehicles cause extremely serious injuries on an almost constant basis in the Tallahassee area. What is scary to realize is that very often, those suffering from severe or even life-threatening injuries often do not realize that they have been hurt.

Injuries to the brain or internal organs are not always apparent, even to the trained eye of a paramedic. If you don’t receive a thorough medical evaluation after an accident, you risk suffering serious consequences, both to your health and finances. It is not so much a question of whether to seek medical treatment but when and how to do so. Based on our years of experience helping accident victims recover their health and financial resources after collisions, we know that a visit to the ER after an accident is often a wise move, but you need to be aware of your other options.

Call 911 and Let First Responders Do Their Job

Even if you feel fine after a collision, it is always a good idea to contact emergency services and get professional help on the scene. Police can set up a protective perimeter and analyze the scene, reporting details that can provide valuable evidence later. Medical personnel can assess injuries and treat or stabilize conditions as necessary. If paramedics recommend that you be transported to the hospital in an ambulance, follow their guidance. They know more about the situation than you do. For instance, they may know that if you arrive at the hospital in an ambulance, you will be examined by doctors within a few minutes, whereas if you drive yourself to the emergency room, the crowded conditions will require you to wait hours even to see a nurse.

Remember, however, that paramedics and other first responders have nowhere near as much medical training and experience as doctors and nurses. If they tell you that you’re “fine” or don’t seem injured, that should not be the final word on the subject. You still need to undergo a thorough medical examination, but you may not need to ride in an ambulance, particularly if the ambulance is needed for someone with more obvious injuries.

A Thorough Medical Exam May Detect Hidden Injuries

Some injuries do not show symptoms immediately after they occur, and it is not until hours or even days later that they cause problems that are readily detectable. Other injuries display very subtle symptoms that can only be detected by a doctor with the right training, equipment, and experience. Injuries that may be overlooked at the scene of a collision include:

• Head injuries, including traumatic brain injuries
• Damage to internal organs
• Soft tissue injuries such as whiplash
• Damage to the spine, such as a herniated disk
• Bone fractures
• Emotional trauma such as PTSD

It is important to receive a comprehensive medical exam after an accident to detect these and other types of injuries. One of the easiest ways to see a doctor for this type of exam is to go to the emergency room (ER), which hospitals sometimes refer to as the emergency department (ED). 

So that the doctor knows what to look for, explain that you were in a car accident and describe any sensations that you have noticed, no matter how slight. If you have pictures of the accident scene and your vehicle, you can show them to the doctor to give the physician an idea of where your body may have received the greatest impact.

A Trip to the ER Could Preserve Your Right to Legal Recovery

Receiving a thorough medical exam from a doctor at the hospital can not only protect your physical health but also your financial future. When you’ve suffered injuries in a collision that was caused by the negligence or recklessness of another, you may be eligible to receive compensation to cover a multitude of losses and to provide resources to meet your needs for the future. However, to receive damages for your medical bills, lost wages, pain, suffering, and other losses, you need proof that your injuries were caused by the collision. 

Receiving a complete medical exam right after the accident gives you written medical records of your condition and can be used to show that physical and mental health problems suffered are the result of that accident. If you wait a long time before seeing a doctor, the insurance companies and attorneys for the others involved in the collision will argue that your injuries were caused by something else. Medical records from a visit to the emergency room can show both the severity of your injuries and the causal connection you need for recovery.

Visiting an Urgent Care Facility Instead of a Hospital Emergency Room

In recent years, numerous small facilities have started offering “urgent care” with shorter wait times than hospital emergency rooms. If you go to one of these facilities after an accident, you may receive evaluation and treatment much sooner than if you make the trip to the hospital. But is it a good alternative?

Generally, urgent care facilities do not have the ability to conduct many diagnostic tests, and you may be seen by a nurse practitioner rather than a physician. Medical staff may either not recognize a serious injury or be unable to treat it and refer you to the hospital. While treatment at an urgent care facility is better than not receiving any medical care at all, after a car accident, it is probably not your best option. If you are unable to get to the hospital or to your regular doctor right soon after the accident, make a note of the reasons why, such as bad weather or car trouble. Try to get a thorough exam within 72 hours of the accident if possible.

Don’t Wait to Contact an Attorney

After you take steps to receive the necessary medical diagnosis and treatment, it is also a good idea to protect yourself by contacting a personal injury attorney for advice as soon as possible. At Searcy Denney, our experienced legal team provides free case evaluations. We offer advice to help you avoid mistakes that could jeopardize your right to recovery and assistance in gathering evidence to support your claim for damages. 

Insurance companies try to take advantage of you while you’re in a vulnerable position, so it is important to understand and protect your legal rights immediately after an accident. To learn more about the ways we can assist you or to get an evaluation of your claim, call us now at 888-549-7011 or contact us online.