Which Type Of Doctor Should I See After A Florida Car Accident?
The most crucial factor after a Florida car accident is your health. Regardless of the kind of injuries suffered, you will need to see a doctor after a car accident so the doctor can properly evaluate and treat you. If your injuries are severe, there might be no question that you need to see an emergency room doctor immediately. However, if your injuries are not that severe, or if you experience pain or other symptoms hours or days after your accident, you might be left wondering, “Which type of doctor should I see?” Below, we discuss the types of doctors you might need to see after a Florida car accident.
What Type of Doctor Should You See After a Florida Car Accident?
After a car accident, a doctor needs to evaluate your injuries. However, you may not be sure which doctor you should see after a car accident. Depending on the situation, the following are the doctors you may need to see after a Florida car accident;
Emergency Room Doctor
As already mentioned, if you suffer severe or life-threatening injuries in a Florida car accident, you will need to be rushed to the emergency room, where you will see an emergency room doctor. After a car accident results in severe injuries, emergency medical services should be called to the accident scene. You should not delay seeking medical treatment if you sustain severe or life-threatening injuries in a car accident. After visiting the emergency room, the doctor will treat your presenting injuries and offer recommendations.
Urgent Care Doctor
You can visit an urgent care clinic if your injuries are not life-threatening. It is recommended to see an urgent care doctor if your injuries are mild to moderate. Usually, urgent care clinics have longer clinical hours than the average primary care physician’s office and cost less than emergency rooms. As with an emergency room, an urgent care doctor will treat you and recommend follow-up if necessary.
Primary Care Physician
You can also see a primary care physician (PCP) after a Florida car accident. This is a healthcare professional who practices general medicine. A PCP is a person you see for non-emergency medical care. In other words, if your injuries can allow you to wait long enough to book an appointment, then you can call your PCP and tell them you need an examination.
However, you should know that many primary care physicians do not treat car accident injuries. For instance, some do not treat car accident injuries because they are not set up to bill auto insurance companies. Others do not treat car accident injuries so they can avoid being asked to testify in court.
Medical Specialist
Depending on the situation, your urgent care doctor or PCP might refer you to a specialist for additional testing or treatment. For example, you may be referred to a neurologist if you suffered a traumatic brain injury in your car accident. You might also be asked to see a specialist if you require surgery.
It is crucial that you follow your doctor’s instructions if they tell you to see a specialist. And after you see the specialist, attend all appointments and follow all treatment directions.
What Can Happen if I Fail to See a Doctor After a Florida Car Accident?
First, if you don’t see a doctor, your injuries could worsen, adversely impacting your life. Even if you don’t feel any pain or notice any symptoms of an injury after a car accident, it is always a good idea to see a doctor. Also, failing to see a doctor after a Florida car accident could adversely affect your chances of recovering compensation.
If another party’s negligence caused you to suffer severe injuries in a Florida car accident, you might be eligible to recover compensation from their insurance company. However, to recover the compensation you deserve, you must do several things, including seeing a doctor promptly, keeping up with the doctor’s appointments, and following treatment directions. If you fail to seek medical treatment, the insurance company might argue that you were not as hurt as you claim. The insurance company might also claim that you suffered your injuries in a different accident. Seeing a doctor promptly after a car accident ensures there are records that clearly indicate the severity of your injuries and that you suffered the injuries in the car accident.
Contact a Naples Car Accident Attorney
If you suffered severe injuries in a Florida car accident because of another party’s negligence, our Naples car accident attorneys at The Law Offices of Marc L. Shapiro are here to help you file a compensation claim against the negligent party. We can help you fight for the compensation you deserve while you focus on healing. Contact us today to discuss your case.