Being involved in any type of accident that may potentially cause injury is stressful, chaotic, and can be downright frightening for even the strongest of human beings. Among all types of accidents, car accidents can be the most terrifying. After an accident occurs, a dozen questions will run through the minds of those involved: “What happened?” “Am I okay?” “Is everyone else okay?” “How will I pay for this?” “Was I at fault?”
All of these questions are important, of course, but your priority after any type of automobile accident should always be to ensure that you and any loved ones are safe and receive medical aid if necessary. But what happens if you aren’t sure what type of medical care is necessary? What type of doctors are best to visit after a car accident? How do you know what your insurance claim will cover and what it won’t? Knowing the answers to these questions can clear up some of the distress and anxiety felt immediately following an accident.
If serious medical aid is deemed necessary, our first instinct is to usually call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. This is the correct course of action. Accident injuries need to be treated as quickly as possible, especially if they’re serious. Lives may be at stake. All emergency room hospitals also bill insurance providers in agreeance with personal injury protection (PIP) policies. This means that you’ll have no complications later on when it comes time to figuring out how to settle the bill with your auto insurance provider. It also means that there will likely be no legal ramifications as long as you go to the emergency room immediately following the accident.
If you’re unsure if there are any serious injuries or question the severity of those injuries, it’s always best to head to an emergency room regardless. This is true for two reasons. Firstly, injuries sustained during a car accident can often worsen over time and take a few hours or even days to present themselves in full. Secondly, the longer period of time you wait to seek medical care after an accident occurs, the harder it is to secure a successful lawsuit if you choose to take legal action. The time period between the accident and your treatment window matters a great deal in court.
After you or your family member receive the necessary care at your closest emergency room, the hospital will transfer the patient to your nearest insurance-approved hospital or tell you to follow up with a primary care doctor or specialist. During this time, it’s important to ask yourself one additional question: “Do I wish to seek legal aid?”
If you feel you weren’t at fault for the accident or may have issues settling the insurance claims, you owe it to yourself and your family to seek out an attorney who specializes in all forms of personal injuries, including those sustained during a car accident. A personal injury lawyer will be able to tell you if you have a possible case on your hands and instruct you on how to go about receiving the legal and financial help you and your loved ones deserve.
An attorney like Todd W. Burris at Todd Burris Law Offices of Lexington, Kentucky will be able to provide the above services, but will also be able to help you decide which doctors you should seek follow-up care with. Not all doctors who practice at clinics and private facilities accept PIP insurance policies. For this reason, some doctors may be reluctant to treat a patient who was a victim of a car accident.
A personal injury attorney will be able to tell you exactly where you should go to receive the best follow-up care possible, and even suggest specialists who will honor your insurance and make it as simple as possible to settle your claims. For more information or a free case evaluation, don’t hesitate to contact Todd Burris Law Offices today. Let us help you get the care and compensation your family needs and deserves to get you back on your feet again.
