What Doctor Should You See After a Car Accident?

If you have been involved in a car accident, it’s crucial to seek medical attention, regardless of the severity of the accident. Erring on the side of caution is in the best interest of your health and can ultimately help your car accident claim.

The circumstances of your injuries will guide what doctor to see after a car accident, and having an experienced Georgia car accident attorney on your side can help to ensure that you receive the compensation to which you are entitled.

Seeking Medical Attention

The impact of even a relatively minor car accident can leave you dangerously injured, and some serious injuries are slow to become symptomatic, which prompts some accident victims to put off seeking the medical attention they need. The best policy after a car accident is to get checked out by a medical professional, whether you think you’ve been injured or not. If an emergency responder or the officer at the scene of the car accident recommends that you receive emergency care, then you should begin with an emergency room doctor. There, you may be referred to your primary care physician or directed to a specialist, depending on the nature of your injuries.

Kinds of Doctors You May See After an Accident

Depending on the severity of your injuries and whether or not they worsen over time, there are a range of doctors you may need to see.

Emergency room doctors

If your injuries are substantial, such as a broken bone, head injury, and bleeding wound, or you feel numbness or severe pain,  an emergency room doctor should be first to treat you. If you are offered emergency care – or transportation to emergency care – at the accident scene, it’s in your best interest to accept.

Urgent care center

If your injuries seem less serious, but you recognize that you’ve been injured, urgent care makes sense. These medical facilities are designed to provide those who sustain non-emergent injuries outside of regular doctor’s hours with the medical care they need – when they need it. If your primary care physician can get you in immediately after the accident, however, they are the better choice.

Your Primary Care Physician

If you don’t think you’ve suffered injuries, it’s still important to get checked out, and your primary care physician is the doctor of choice. The fact is that injuries like whiplash and even concussions may not be readily apparent, but they can become progressively more serious over time, which makes getting an appointment sooner rather than later the right choice.

Specialists

If your injuries are more serious, you may need to see one or more specialists. Your attending physician — whether this means the ER doc, the urgent care doctor, or your primary care physician — will refer you to a specialist for a more specific care plan.

Common examples include:

  • General surgeons who treat internal injuries
  • Plastic surgeons for scars and disfigurement
  • Trauma surgeons
  • Orthopedic surgeons
  • Burn specialists
  • Radiologists for reading imaging tests, such as X-rays, CT scans, and MRIs
  • Physical, occupational, and vocational therapists
  • Pain management specialists

The more widespread your injuries, the more doctors and specialists you’re likely to require.

A Note about Receiving Timely Care

The sooner you receive the medical care you need for the injuries you sustain in a car accident, the better your chances of reaching a complete recovery. Early diagnosis is closely related to improved prognosis, which makes seeing a doctor as soon after a car accident as possible the best path forward – even if you aren’t sure that you’ve been injured.

Your Car Accident Claim

Medical costs can be exceptionally challenging because even relatively minor injuries can develop complications that require ongoing healthcare needs, and secondary health issues may also be a concern. Ensuring that your medical costs – in their entirety – are well represented in your claim can play a critical role in your ability to recover fully. If you are worried about the cost of medical care our attorney can help with different ways to limit out of pocket expenses.

Some of the most common medical expenses you can recover from a claim include:

  • Emergency care
  • Treatment and care from your primary care physician
  • Surgical care
  • Care from specialists, therapists, and other medical professionals
  • Pain management
  • Prescription medications
  • Medical tests, treatments, and procedures
  • Home health care

Contact an Experienced Georgia Car Accident Attorney Today

Our lawyers at the Larrison Law Firm Auto Accident and Personal Injury Attorneys dedicate this practice to skillfully guiding challenging car accident claims. We’re standing by to help. Don’t wait to contact us through our online form or call us at 770-626-7895 for more information about what we can do to help you today.

Car Accident Case FAQs

I feel fine. Is a doctor really necessary?

The impact of a car crash is considerable, and you could have injuries that you aren’t aware of. The stress and adrenaline rush that accompany car accidents can also mask worrisome symptoms that you may not recognize until later. Seeking medical care after a car accident is best for your health and for your car accident claim.

How long do I have to file a car accident lawsuit?

The statute of limitations – or time limit – for filing a lawsuit in relation to a car accident in Georgia is two years from the date of the injury-causing accident.

Is an attorney necessary?

In order to protect your rights and your rightful compensation, having a dedicated car accident attorney in your corner is well advised.

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