If you have been injured in a car accident, it is vital to seek medical attention right away. The sooner you are treated, the better the chances are that you will make a full recovery.
When choosing a car injury doctor, it is important to find someone who is experienced in treating these types of injuries. You should also ask about the doctor’s experience with car accident cases, and whether they are familiar with the laws in New York.
What are car accident injuries?
Car accident injuries refer to the various types of physical harm that can occur as a result of a vehicle collision. These injuries can vary greatly in severity, from minor cuts and bruises to severe, life-threatening conditions. Below are some common types of car accident injuries:
- Whiplash: This is a neck injury due to forceful, rapid back-and-forth movement of the neck, like the cracking of a whip. Whiplash is most commonly received from rear-end car accidents.
- Scrapes and Cuts: Loose objects in the car at the moment of the accident can cause these. While they may not be life-threatening, they can still lead to significant blood loss if not addressed promptly.
- Head Injuries: These can range from mild concussions to serious traumatic brain injuries. They are often caused by the head hitting the steering wheel, dashboard, or windows, or by the force of the collision itself.
- Broken Ribs: Ribs are fragile and break easily in car accidents. Even a relatively minor crash can lead to broken ribs.
- Other Broken Bones: Arms, wrists, ankles, and legs are also susceptible to breaks in a car accident.
- Internal Bleeding: This is a less obvious but potentially more dangerous injury caused by car accidents. It requires immediate medical attention.
- Herniated Discs: These are less common but can be very painful. They can occur when the force of the accident causes the soft center of a spinal disc to push through a crack in the tougher exterior casing.
- Knee Trauma: The sudden impact of a car crash can cause injuries to the knees, such as shattered kneecaps or other injuries requiring surgical repair.
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Not all car accident injuries are physical. Significant accidents can lead to mental and emotional trauma, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression.
- Spinal Cord Injuries and Paralysis: In severe cases, a car accident can result in injuries to the spinal cord, potentially causing partial or complete paralysis.
In the event of a car accident, it’s crucial to seek medical attention immediately, even if you feel fine at first. Some injuries may not show symptoms immediately and can become more serious if left untreated. It’s also essential to follow all medical advice and to receive follow-up care as necessary.
READ MORE: 9 Common Car Accident Injuries and How to Treat Them
How common are car accident injuries?
Car accident injuries are unfortunately quite common due to the high prevalence of vehicle use worldwide. The specific statistics can vary depending on the region and the period considered.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 1.35 million people die each year as a result of road traffic crashes. This makes it the eighth leading cause of death globally for people of all ages, and the first for children and young adults aged 5-29 years. In addition to this, between 20 and 50 million more people suffer non-fatal injuries as a result of car accidents, with many becoming disabled as a result.
Here are some tips to help you avoid car accident injuries:
- Wear your seatbelt.
- Don’t drink and drive.
- Don’t text and drive.
- Obey the speed limit.
- Be aware of your surroundings.
- Stay alert when driving.
- Make sure your car is in good condition.
By following these tips, you can help to reduce your risk of being injured in a car accident.
What to look for in a car injury doctor
When seeking a doctor to treat car accident injuries, you should look for several key qualifications and traits.
- Relevant Specialization: The type of doctor you should see can depend on the nature of your injuries. You may need an accident injury doctor, orthopedist, neurologist, or even a psychiatrist or psychologist for trauma-related conditions. Physical therapists may also be needed for recovery from various types of injuries.
- Experience: You should seek a doctor who has experience treating car accident injuries specifically. They will be more familiar with the types of injuries that can occur in car accidents and the best treatment methods for them.
- Communication: A good doctor should listen to your concerns, answer your questions in a way you can understand, and explain your diagnosis and treatment plan clearly. You should feel comfortable discussing your symptoms and any concerns you have.
- Availability: In the aftermath of a car accident, it’s essential to get prompt treatment. Look for a doctor who can see you soon after your accident, and who is also available for follow-up appointments as necessary.
- Professionalism: This includes respect for you and your time (i.e., minimal waiting times), a clean and comfortable facility, and courteous staff.
- Credentials: Make sure the doctor is board-certified in their specialty, and check if they have any outstanding complaints or malpractice suits.
- Insurance Compatibility: This is more of a practical matter, but it’s important to make sure the doctor is within your insurance network if you have health insurance.
- Patient Reviews: Looking at reviews from other patients can give you a sense of what to expect from the doctor. Keep in mind that these are subjective experiences, but they can be helpful in identifying potential red flags.
- Approach to Pain Management: This is particularly important in the context of car accident injuries, which can often involve significant pain. The doctor should have a thoughtful, effective approach to managing pain, which might include a combination of medications, physical therapy, and other treatments.
Remember, you’re not just looking for a doctor with the right skills and experience, but also someone with whom you feel comfortable communicating and from whom you can receive quality care. If you’re not happy with your care, don’t hesitate to seek a second opinion.
What questions to ask a car injury doctor
When consulting with a doctor about your car accident injuries, it’s important to ask the right questions to understand your situation and treatment plan better. Here are some important questions you may want to consider:
- What is the extent of my injuries? Ask your doctor to explain your injuries in detail, including any medical terms that you do not understand.
- How serious are my injuries? It’s crucial to understand the severity of your injuries, as this will determine the next steps and treatment.
- What is the expected recovery time? This will help you plan your time and adjust your lifestyle accordingly.
- What will my treatment plan involve? This includes information about any procedures, medication, physical therapy, and follow-up visits.
- Will I need surgery? If you have serious injuries, you might require surgery. If so, ask about the risks and benefits, and if there are any non-surgical alternatives.
- Will I need any medical equipment for my recovery? This could include crutches, wheelchairs, braces, or other assistive devices.
- What are the potential long-term impacts of my injuries? Some injuries can lead to chronic pain, reduced mobility, or other long-term effects.
- Will I need physical therapy or rehabilitation services? Many injuries will require some form of physical therapy or rehabilitation.
- What can I do to aid my recovery? This could include at-home exercises, dietary changes, and more.
- Are there any activities I should avoid to prevent further injury? Depending on your injury, you may need to temporarily or permanently avoid certain activities.
- How will we track my progress and adjust my treatment plan? Knowing how your recovery will be evaluated can help you understand what to expect.
- What should I do if my symptoms worsen? It’s important to know when to seek urgent medical attention.
Remember, it’s important to be your own advocate in healthcare settings. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and clarify anything you don’t understand about your injury or treatment plan.
The importance of getting the right care for your car accident injuries
Obtaining the right care for car accident injuries is of utmost importance for several reasons:
- Prompt Diagnosis: Timely and accurate diagnosis is key to effective treatment. After a car accident, some injuries may not be immediately apparent due to shock or adrenaline. However, internal injuries, concussions, or spinal injuries, for example, can be serious if not identified and treated promptly.
- Effective Treatment: Once a diagnosis has been made, the correct treatment can significantly affect your recovery. Inappropriate treatment can lead to worsening of injuries, chronic pain, or long-term disability.
- Pain Management: Car accidents often result in painful injuries. The right care involves effective pain management strategies, making recovery more comfortable and tolerable.
- Preventing Long-Term Complications: Proper care can help prevent potential long-term complications such as chronic pain, stiffness, limited mobility, and psychological effects like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
- Rehabilitation and Recovery: Car accident injuries often require physical therapy or rehabilitation. The right care includes a comprehensive recovery plan tailored to your needs to help you regain strength, flexibility, and function.
- Mental and Emotional Support: A car accident can also have significant mental and emotional impacts. The right care approach should include addressing these aspects, with professional support as needed.
- Legal and Insurance Issues: Proper documentation of your injuries by health professionals is crucial if you decide to make an insurance claim or legal case related to the accident. Your medical records serve as evidence of the severity and impact of your injuries.
In summary, getting the right care after a car accident is not only critical to your immediate health, but also your long-term recovery and quality of life. It’s important to seek medical attention immediately following a car accident, even if you feel fine, as some injuries may not present symptoms right away.
What Happens after a Car Accident?
- Damage to your vehicle. Even a small fender bender will mean your car will never be as new as it was before
- Car accident injury. More importantly, your body goes through a lot of stress and damage. Some of our patients are lucky to suffer minor injuries and little pain afterwards, but for the most of them accident injuries are severe. They need weeks / months of various treatments, rehabilitation and pain management.
- Post-Traumatic Stress. Absolutely normal, after dealing with a car crash, you will feel stressed for months to come. Add to this the fact that, normally, out of pocket treatment can ruin you, so you have a very dire situation.
How Do Our Car Injury Doctors Help Patients?
Injury Doctor NYC is a full-service car accident and workers comp clinic in Queens, New York, with countless patients recovering beautifully from sports, work or car accidents.
We pride ourselves with an impeccable track record, with happy and fully restored patients who vouch for our expertise and dedication. Just read some of our testimonials to get an idea.
Our clinic has all the medical specialties needed to properly diagnose and treat auto accident injuries: Orthopedists, Physical Therapists, Chiropractors and Acupuncturists, to name just few of them. You don’t have to waste time visiting countless clinics, waiting in line and dealing with doctors who are not experienced in injuries, you get our top doctors under “one roof” and get taken care of the right way.
1. Seek Medical Attention Immediately after a Car Accident
Don’t listen to old wives tales and “wait it out”. Car injuries are serious business, so, after the unfortunate event, make sure to get all the details from the involved parties, call your insurance company, call in the Police and then see a doctor.
Do not drive yourself to the hospital, get someone to drive you there, unless you are taken by an ambulance. New York is a no-fault state, so your medical treatment will be covered by the insurance company, not out of your pocket. So do seek medical help.
2. Find the Best Car Injury Doctors
As soon as your immediate injuries are taken care of, look for our car injury doctors. Do not wait for weeks, until you start to feel really unwell, because no insurance adjuster will then believe you need extensive medical care and rehabilitation, but, yet, it took you 3 weeks to see a doctor.
Most car injuries start showing ugly symptoms even after few days, since the accident, as the body starts to react to the impact (and the adrenaline rush that made you feel “ok” minutes afterwards is now gone). This means you will feel pain (sometimes excruciating pain), numbness, dizziness etc.
If you see a doctor immediately, they will assess if you don’t have internal bleeding, brain trauma, fractures etc. and then your car injury doctor will take care of the rest.
3. Follow the Treatment and Rehabilitation Plan
Once you have met with our car injury doctors, you will get the documentation ready and also a well-thought treatment and rehabilitation plan. At this moment you need to carefully schedule time around your appointments and do your best to have no gaps in treatment.
When it comes to insurance claims you need to show that you did suffer seriously after the car accident, that you sought proper medical care and you did all you could in order to recover your health and be able to resume your active lifestyle.
We know exactly how to treat your accident injuries and how to optimize your treatment, so that you have little to no “downtime” and can once again be strong and healthy.
In need of car injury doctors? Don’t wait any longer. Let’s schedule your free initial consultation and see how we can treat you.
