Car accidents can happen at any time and cause both short-term and lifelong injuries. Sometimes even accidents that you would not think much about can cause major injuries. Every year thousands of accident victims wait to see a specialist about their accident-related injuries. By seeing your Auto Accident Doctor Nassau County after a car accident there is no question about your recovery, and you can avoid future injury.
Why Should I See a Doctor After Being In An Accident?
With the force involved with most car accidents many different injuries can occur. Some injuries are easy to spot like cuts and bruises. However, there are many injuries that do not show signs right away. This includes whiplash, concussions, and soft tissue injuries. Symptoms of these injuries can take hours, days, or even weeks to appear which is why some believe they are “fine” when they are not.
Doctors who specialize in helping car accident victims know what to look for when evaluating these types of injuries. They know how to look for injuries you may not think are related to your accident and can catch them before they become serious.
How soon should I go to the doctor after a car accident?
Hopefully, your answer is: NOW. If you haven’t yet seen a doctor following your car accident, make sure to get there within 24 hours—even if you feel perfectly fine. The sooner you are checked out by a medical professional, the better. Why? Because waiting too long to be seen by a doctor can cause lifelong problems. What may seem like “nothing” today can become chronic pain, decreased range of motion, or even permanent disability down the road.
Not only will the right doctor be able to treat your current symptoms, but he or she will also have the know-how to prevent future injury with proper rehabilitation and follow-up visits.
It’s also in your best interest to seek Worker Comp Doctor Hempstead quickly for legal reasons. Florida has what is known as a 14-Day Rule under Personal Injury Protection or “PIP” benefits. Essentially, if you are involved in an automobile accident you must seek medical treatment within 14 days of the accident or you will be ineligible to receive insurance benefits from your carrier (and be left with thousands of dollars in medical bills). This helps ensure that you receive prompt medical treatment and eliminates fraudulent lawsuits being filed years after an accident.
Which Doctor Should You Visit Following a Car Accident?
If you’ve been in an accident, you may be wondering if you should go to the emergency room, urgent care, or see a doctor. It all depends on the type of injury you have and your symptoms.
When to visit the emergency room vs. doctor. If you suffer from severe pain, bleeding, trouble breathing, dizziness, passing out, or any obvious serious injury, you should visit the emergency room. The ER will have the necessary tools and specialists on hand to treat life-threatening conditions. They can also do advanced imaging and stabilize your condition.
Otherwise, you’ll want to see a doctor who specializes in the area of your injury. Specifically, you want to see an orthopedic specialist. These doctors have seen hundreds if not thousands of similar injuries from car accidents.
Traumatic Accidents Aggravate Pre-Existing Conditions
Vehicle collisions have the power to aggravate pre-existing conditions you may have such as arthritis, degenerative disc disease, or prior injuries. Something that was once mild and manageable can turn into an extremely painful debilitating issue.
If you suffered from occasional mild back pain prior to your accident, you may now be experiencing severe and constant pain. That’s why it’s important to give your doctor your full medical history. They will work with you to create a treatment plan to heal any injuries you may have received, as well as address any ways the accident affected your pre-existing conditions.
Doctors at Quan Medical PLLC provide physiatry which allows for better treatment and recovery options here in Queens County. Physiatry, also referred to as Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R), is the specialty of medicine that takes care of medical conditions that impair the way someone moves or functions. World class Physiatrists at Quan Medical PLLC treat conditions impacting the brain, nerves, spinal cord, bones, joints, ligaments, muscles & tendons.
