While your primary care doctor can try to help you, after a car accident, your PCP is not a specialist in such cases. You need a car accident injury doctor who can treat your injuries and also help with the medical documentation.
Another reason your primary care physician cannot help is that your medical records will determine whether you get compensation for the injuries. These records will help set the value for your claim. Specialists such as chiropractors, psychiatrists, and neurologists will accurately assess your accident injury to give a good report to the insurance company.
How Can Car Injury Doctors Help You
A car injury doctor will give you an accurate diagnosis. This will help you get the right treatment and also help your claim. These doctors are specialists such as neurologists, dentists, orthopedics, and psychiatrists among others.
After they assess your injury, they will write a detailed report to help you with your case. Some of the items the doctor will note down include:
- A detailed account of what happened during the accident
- Your medical history and any pre-existing condition
- All the medical tests the doctor carried out including nerve compression and range of motion
- Specialized tests such as MRIs, digital motion x-ray, and X-rays among others
- Any referrals to other specialists who may give further evaluations or perform surgery
- Prescriptions you received
- Information on the cause of the injury, this might be that the accident caused the injury primarily or it aggravated injuries you already had
- Any medical care or needs you may need in the future
- The effects of your injuries on your work and your daily life
The detailed information the injury doctor writes will help the insurance company value compensation. This report shows the effects of the accident on your life including the losses, the harm, and the injuries.
A specialist will diagnose your injuries more accurately and will devise the best medical plan for you to get treatment. However, for the doctor to help you, you need to be open on all past injuries and your medical history. Disclosing your history will not harm your case. If anything, your medical history can even help your case. If you omit some details on your medical history, the insurance company might call you untruthful.
A person with a pre-existing condition gets an injury with ease and they are not easy to treat. These people get a higher compensation, not less.
What Types of Injuries Do Car Accident Doctors Treat
There are different types of car accident injuries. For each type of injury, you need to see a specialist. Our car accident injury clinic can provide diagnosis and treatment for most of them. Some of the injuries include:
- Head and brain injuries – These injuries include concussions, internal bleeding, skull fractures, and other cases of traumatic brain injuries. These cases need immediate medical care.
- Injuries on Muscles, Ligaments, and Tendons – These are minor accidents but they still need immediate medical attention. They include sprains, mild cuts and scrapes, and strains.
- Back and Neck Injuries – Injuries in this category include herniated discs, strain, and sprain. For the neck, you can suffer from a whiplash, which can cause a lot of pain. Most of the injuries cause a lot of pain.
- Burns – Burns are a result of extreme heat, chemicals, or electricity. Burns can either be first-, second-, or third-degree depending on their severity. First-degree burns are mild and only need simple first aid care. Third-degree burns are serious and need immediate medical attention.
- Spinal Injuries – Spinal injuries are life-threatening and require immediate treatment. The impact from the accident can fracture, dislocate, compress, or crush the vertebrae.
- Fractures – Fractures result from the impact from the accident. Fractures are painful and require immediate care. Some fractures require surgery.
What Kind of Doctor Should I See After A Car Accident?
You need to see s specialist. If the car injury involves a broken bone, see an orthopedist. If you have a spinal cord injury, see a neurologist. For teeth and jaws, see a dentist. The specialist you choose need to be experienced in handling accident injuries.
When Should I Go To The Doctor After A Car Accident?
You should see a car injury doctor immediately after the accident. Delaying to see a doctor might hurt your personal injury case and might exacerbate any injuries you might have. After an accident, adrenaline rushes through your body and may make it challenging for you to make sense of the nature of the injuries you have. So, see a doctor immediately.
Should You See A Doctor After A Minor Car Accident?
Yes. See a doctor even when you feel okay. Some injuries, such as concussions, do not show immediate symptoms. As such, you may stay at home thinking you are tired only to realize you suffered a concussion after a few weeks. Seeing a doctor will help you contain any underlying injuries.