The importance of proper healthcare following an auto accident

When you are injured in a car, motorcycle, or truck accident you will most likely require immediate medical care at the emergency room. While this is critical, it is also very important to maintain ongoing care – if necessary – to restore you to your health prior to the injury, as much as possible. We are rarely able to gauge the true extent of injury immediately following an accident; some injuries are resolved quickly whereas other complications last for months, years, or even a lifetime.

Once authorities have been called to the scene of the accident, you will probably be offered medical treatment. If so, you should certainly accept it even if it may be inconvenient or time consuming.

If your injuries do not appear to be serious, you can rest assured that medical professionals have given you the green light. Regardless, you should at least get examined in case there is something that you missed. If you are not offered medical treatment at the scene, you should nonetheless go to the emergency room or at least your primary care doctor as soon as you can.

Seeking medical care is crucial for three reasons. First, some serious and life-threatening injuries are not readily apparent but are detectable by a physician. For example, internal bleeding, spinal fracture, broken ribs, skull fractures, and others. Second, being examined will help calm your fears following a serious accident. Lastly, a medical practitioner will advise you on how to safely manage pain and whether or not to seek continued rehabilitation. All of these benefits will help you get back to your normal life in a reasonable time, if possible.

Medical treatment is not only vital to your health, but also necessary for a legal claim. Unfortunately, if a person was injured but never sought treatment, there may be no case to be made. Of course, no one should ever seek unnecessary or prolonged medical treatment for the sake of a lawsuit. That is unethical and helps no one. However, if you need the treatment, do not hesitate to make a treatment plan with your doctor, surgeon, physical therapist, or other medical professional.

Also, after an accident and injury, always give a full, complete, and accurate medical history to all medical providers, including those who are not treating you for accident related injury.