If you’ve recently been in an accident and were injured in Tampa, Florida it’s important to make sure you receive top care. Injuries after an accident can vary, and it is always important to try and identify the severity of the injuries so that you can determine how soon you should see a doctor after an accident, and to what doctor you should go to.
Should I Always See a Doctor After a Car Accident?
Yes, it is generally always a good idea to see a doctor after a car accident. It is very common for a person to feel fine after a car accident only to later realize that they have long term injuries that did not show up for many months or years. These types of injuries can be found earlier if you are checked out by a doctor, thereby giving you a bigger chance of healing yourself and getting any necessary damages before the statute of limitations expires.
Should I Always Go To The Emergency Room?
You do not always need to go straight to an emergency room. In many cases you can drive yourself or have someone take you to urgent care if your injuries are not severe. In extremely mild cases you may not need to go straight from the accident to the doctor’s office, but it is still always a good idea to get checked out anyway!
However, you should always call 911 can take an ambulance if you are experiencing:
- Severe pain
- Shortness of breath
- Weakness
- Dizziness
- Profuse bleeding
- Deep lacerations
- Broken bones
- Head injury
- Neck or back injury
- Loss of consciousness
- Confusion
- Any other symptom that concerns you as urgent
You should not try to drive yourself to the emergency room. If an ambulance is not an option, have someone drive you to the hospital if you need emergency treatment.
What Types of Doctors Treat People Who Have Injuries from Car Accidents?
Emergency room physician
Where you have any of the severe symptoms above, or any other urgent injuries, you should go to an emergency room to be checked out by an emergency room physician. The emergency room comments are excellent for proving injuries as they get to see you right after your accident, and many times can determine what injuries were caused by the crash.
Radiologist
Radiologists will read and decipher the meaning of your x-rays, CAT scans, MRIs and other imaging studies. These readings can be very helpful in providing proof for what your injuries actually are, especially to the lay people on the jury.
Trauma surgeon
Trauma surgeons are generally the surgeons that perform emergency procedures immediately after a car crash. They are essentially specialized in treating trauma after accidents.
Orthopedic surgeon
Car accidents commonly cause back and spine injuries. Orthopedic surgeons are specialized in procedures that attempt to rectify these back injuries to give the victim of a car accident a better standard of living.
Neurologist or neurosurgeon
Neurologists and neurosurgeons work with your body’s nervous systems. Sometimes your brain and nervous system is harmed during a car crash. These doctors will treat those injuries and attempt to get you back on your feet.
Burn specialist
In some cases, a car crash may cause a fire. If this fire caused a burn on the victim, it is also important for the victim to see a burn specialist. A burn-injury specialist can evaluate the injury and determine what should be done to help heal the burn with minimal scarring and pain.
Plastic surgeon
Plastic surgeons can help cover up scarring, or other permanent damages caused by a car crash after your injuries have healed.
General surgeon for internal injuries
Other types of surgeons may help for internal injuries that do not require a specialized field.
Physical, occupational, and vocational therapist
It is very common for injured persons to go to a therapist. Therapists can help after severe injuries where a loss of motor function occurred, and re-learning must take place. But they are also extremely helpful in situations where constant pain is occurring due to the accident, and where surgery has not relieved said pain.
These types of therapists will have the victim complete exercises to stretch and make their muscles stronger again, so that the pain can be relieved. They will also take careful notes of recovery progress, which can be helpful in proving damages in court.
Injuries are no fun, and it is always important to be able to identify those injuries that are serious, and need immediate treatment, and those that are not as urgent.
Nonetheless, it is always important to get checked out by a doctor after an accident, regardless of what you are feeling. Sometimes, when injuries are serious, paying for quality medical care can be expensive.
Bulluck Law Group has years of experience in getting people the money they need after a car accident. Contact us for a free consultation today.