Auto accidents are traumatic experiences that can leave people worse than just injured. They can disable people for the rest of their lives, or end them right then and there. The things that happen after an auto accident can be just as traumatic.
Sometimes, injuries can appear over time that you didn’t notice immediately after the accident. While a good auto accident doctor will find them before they can develop into serious ailments, it can be hard to find a good auto accident doctor in the first place. They’re not like the kinds of doctors most people are used to working with.
Instead, car injury doctors specialize in finding injuries that other doctors may miss after an accident. It’s vital that people who have been in accident visit them, and not just to check their vitals! Car accident doctors can also boost a person’s claim and will make sure the victim gets their fair share.
All you need to do is find one that works for you, and that can be challenging. For help, just keep reading below!
Primary Care Physicians Are Not Car Injury Doctors
Most people understand that they should visit a doctor after getting in a car accident. Visiting one isn’t just about ensuring that they didn’t sustain any hidden injuries. Seeing a doctor also creates a paper trail that demonstrates that they are being responsible, to help their claim.
For example, a general physician may overlook an innocuous bump on a person’s back after a crash. However, a car injury doctor will investigate it. And even they don’t find anything, they will make a note about it in your medical record.
If it develops into something later, you won’t need to worry about needing to pay to get it treated. The medical report that your doctor prepared will link the injury to the accident, and the person who caused the crash may need to pay for it. That’s why it’s so important to find an auto accident doctor instead of just seeing a general care physician.
They know what they’re doing, what to look out for, and will make your case as strong as your health!
Seeing One Can Start the Process of Finding Treatment
While seeing a primary care physician may not be the best option, it’s better than not seeing anyone at all. At the very least, a primary care physician will identify basic injuries that you may not notice after an accident. It’s important to remember that even if something doesn’t hurt, it can still be harmful.
Seeing a general care physician also helps establish a medical record that may come in handy later. If you don’t see any doctor at all, you won’t be able to prove an injury is due to the crash if it ends up needing treatment. So, make sure to see a doctor after an accident, even if it’s just a general physician!
Research How to Find an Auto Accident Doctor
Finding a good auto accident doctor will take work — most people don’t even know they exist! Luckily, you have access to the repertoire of all human knowledge known as the internet. By researching where to find an auto accident doctor online, you can start preparing potential people to go to.
Yet, just Googling for one isn’t enough if you want to find someone good at their job. You should also read reviews about the clinic the doctor is located at, and you should look the doctor up on social media. Don’t be afraid to dig deep to make a decision about which doctor you should see.
Don’t Stop at Online Research — Talk to People!
Doing online research is a good place to start when trying to find a good auto accident doctor. Yet, it may not be enough to find a doctor that’s right for you. It can be more effective to ask actual people about who you should see, instead of just asking Google’s algorithm.
By talking to people online, or face-to-face, you can describe exactly what you need from your doctor. The person you talk to may also know what you need better than any algorithm and will be able to make better recommendations.
Establish Accurate, Complete Medical Records
Most insurances will expect you to see a doctor after a car accident. This is a part of the normal claim process; it’s a way for the insurance company to cover all bases. The value of your claim can actually be based on your medical record.
And if your claim’s value is based on your medical record, why would you settle for any less than the best? When you’re looking for an auto accident doctor, you want to find someone who understands the important role they will play in the claim process. Most of all, you want someone who will have your back if you need it in court.
Make sure your auto accident doctor is trustworthy before seeing them. Ask about their workload, and how often they handle cases like yours. If they are juggling too many people at once, it’s not likely that they’ll have time for you, and if they don’t have experience with cases like yours, they may be ineffective if you need them.
Avoid Doctors from Legal Referral Services, Find Your Own
It’s always best to find your own auto accident doctor and to avoid ones recommended to you by legal firms. The ones that are recommended by legal firms tend to use up your no-fault benefits quicker than ones you would find on your own. Their entire clinics usually operate by using up people’s benefits.
Don’t get caught in the trap! Do your research and find an auto accident that you know you can trust to work for you, not just for your money!
Make Sure They Treat All Possible Injuries
While insurance plays an important role in the events following an auto accident, it’s not the most important part. The most important part is making sure that you stay healthy and that you get to walk away from an accident. Finding treatment is the most important part of any auto accident.
So, make sure that your doctor treats a variety of injuries. They may not always be obvious, and without proper treatment, an injury can become chronic. An accident that may have only taken place in a moment may impact you for the rest of your life.
Even if something is just uncomfortable after an auto accident, make sure your doctor knows about it. It can indicate that something’s wrong, and if your auto accident doctor is good, they’ll know exactly what to do! Don’t be ashamed to ask for help, if you don’t think you need it.
Soft Tissue Damage Isn’t Always Visible
Soft tissue injuries are usually centered around ligaments or are felt in your muscles. They exist deep under your skin and may seem like simple bruises at first. Yet, soft tissue damage can develop into excruciating ailments if they’re allowed to develop into something like internal hemorrhaging.
And internal bleeding is nothing to take lightly. Make sure every bruise is checked and documented, just in case it ends up being something worse. And if a bruise doesn’t go away after a few days, or if it ends up hurting worse after time goes on, let your doctor know!
Concussions Aren’t Always Obvious
Concussions are a serious concern for all car accident victims. Stopping too suddenly can cause your brain to essentially impact the inside of your skull, bruising it. While most people will intuitively know if they’re concussed, based on head pains, sometimes people don’t feel anything at all.
And concussions can lead to chronic problems later in life. If someone gets a concussion, they may end up in a coma or may develop brain injuries if it goes unchecked. There are simple tests your doctor can do to see if you’re concussed, even if you don’t feel any pain at all!
Take Care of Your Mental Health, Too
Physical trauma can be easy to spot and easier to fix — people generally know what to do to help someone who is physically injured. Yet, mental trauma can be harder to spot and can hurt worse than any physical injury. It’s possible for people to develop PTSD, depression, or other serious mental illnesses after an accident.
This is usually due to the suddenness of being in a car accident. It reminds people how fragile life can be and forces them to face some uncomfortable facts about themselves. Car accidents can be just as violent as a battle, and just as traumatizing.
Don’t be ashamed if you feel like talking to a therapist after a car accident. Plenty of people reach out to a psychologist after a car accident to get through mental illnesses. And you may not even need to pay for it — treating mental trauma as a result of your accident can also be a part of your claim!
Finding an Auto Accident Doctor Isn’t About Money
It can be hard to keep track of all the paperwork after an auto accident. There are many things that need to be documented after one. Not the least of which is your health!
Finding the right auto accident doctor isn’t a matter of creating a medical record to use in a claim. It isn’t even about formality. It’s about making sure that you’re healthy after an accident and making sure you didn’t suffer anything too serious.
Your health matters, and we know that better than most other people. That’s why you should keep reading here to learn more about how to best care for your health after an auto accident, and how to stay healthy generally!