The shock of an auto accident can leave you reeling with emotions and unsure of how to react. You may know you’ve suffered injuries and are in pain, but you may wonder what kind of doctor to see after a car accident happens.
Choosing the right medical provider after a crash can make a considerable difference in your ability to begin making a full recovery.
However, dealing with various medical providers and insurance companies may cause confusion about whose responsibility it is to finance your treatment. A Greenville car accident attorney with experience in cases like yours can communicate and coordinate on your behalf while you seek the medical treatment you need.
At David R. Price, Jr., P.A., we will exhaust every avenue to advocate for your needs after an auto accident. Contact us when you need help recovering from an auto accident.
Do You Know What Kind of Doctor To See After a Car Accident?
The scope of your injuries will vary significantly depending on the nature of your accident. Some factors that could impact how injured you are and what medical treatment you will need include:
- Your vehicle’s speed
- The point of impact
- Your underlying health conditions
- Whether or not you used your seatbelt
For less severe or superficial injuries, you might consider going without emergency medical care and following up with your primary care provider later. For serious injuries, your life may depend on immediate medical attention.
Should You Go to the Hospital After a Car Accident?
Serious injuries require you to seek emergency care at a hospital. You should go to your local hospital right away if you experience the following:
- Pain
- Numbness or tingling in arms or legs
- Burns
- Severe trauma
- Breathing difficulty
- Broken bones
- Uncontrollable bleeding
Despite how good you might feel you fared after an accident, it is always a good idea to seek medical treatment right away. Allow the paramedics to give you a once-over at the scene of the accident to clear you of any major injuries that you might not notice right away. Even if you feel confident that you have not been significantly injured, it is wise to make sure that you follow up with a doctor for an evaluation after a car accident.
Going to the emergency room after a car accident
Injuries involving your spinal cord, brain, and internal organs require immediate, life-saving treatment. Time-sensitive injuries such as these could cause lifelong impairments if not handled immediately. A hospital has a triage unit, as well as access to specialists who can determine the most effective methods to treat you.
Visiting a primary care provider after a collision
You can visit your primary care provider for follow-up care after your initial treatment at the scene of an accident or after your release from the emergency room. Additional tests, follow-up treatment, and recommendations for specialists are all things your PCP can offer.
Seeing medical specialists for car crash injuries
After a serious car accident, you may need treatment from a specialist. Types of specialists include chiropractors, orthopedists, psychiatrists, surgeons, and neurologists. Side effects of an auto accident might include joint pain, loss of mobility, and PTSD. Specialists provide targeted treatment for these symptoms to support your recovery. Specialists’ involvement could prevent ongoing pain and give you the help you need to achieve optimal healing.
How Long Do You Have To See a Doctor After an Auto Accident?
Immediately following your accident, you might feel dazed and confused and caught up in the shock of what happened. Your body may not indicate pain or injury right away. However, symptoms could begin to show up days or even weeks after the incident. If ignored and untreated, these symptoms might continue to cause discomfort and may even trigger worse health issues.
As a rule of thumb, you should get to a doctor as quickly as possible, typically within one to 14 days of your accident. If you do not know what doctor to see after a car accident, you can seek recommendations from your family and friends. An attorney can also give insight into what to consider when looking for medical treatment after an incident as serious as an auto accident.
In cases where you experience delayed symptoms, keep detailed records of how you feel in the hours and days after your accident. Document all your symptoms, including when they started and how they feel. These types of records of your health after an accident can provide proof of your condition and its causal relation to the crash you were in.
The length of time you will need to continue seeing your doctor for follow-up visits will vary depending on your injuries. Your provider will evaluate improvements in your condition and determine when you can conclude treatment.
We Can Help You After an Auto Accident
Determining what doctor to see after a car accident as well as if you even should go see one at all, can be daunting and frustrating. If you let us know about your immediate situation, then we can help you determine the best course of action to take so you can begin your recovery from your injuries.
At David R. Price, Jr., P.A., we understand the nuanced problems that accompany car accidents and medical treatment. We will advocate on your behalf to provide support and reassurance during a difficult time. Call us today or fill out the form on our website to schedule a free consultation.
David Price is a Personal Injury, Civil Litigation, Collections, and Criminal Defense Attorney who practices in Greenville, SC. He graduated from the University of Georgia School of Law, and has been practicing law for 12 years. David Price believes in helping those who have been injured. Learn more about his experience by clicking here.
