After an auto accident, should you visit your primary care physician or you should see a specialist? While most people call their primary care physician, one should see an auto injury doctor. These are doctors trained to handle accident injuries such as whiplash, concussion, and more.
There are two main advantages to see an auto accident doctor and not your physician. First, the doctor can diagnose y0our case better as they are trained to handle such cases. Second, they write a detailed report that will help your personal injury case.
What is an auto accident doctor?
An auto accident doctor is a doctor who understands auto accident injuries and how to handle them. They also have knowledge on personal injury cases and will give you a detailed report that you can use to claim for compensation. Even if you call your primary care physician, they will likely recommend an auto accident doctor instead of treating you.
An auto accident doctor collects every little detail about the accident and the injuries and writes a report. This report includes (but is not limited to):
- An account of how the accident happened
- Your medical history and cases of any pre-existing medical conditions
- Details on all the tests the doctor carried on you
- Details on MRIs and X-rays
- Prescriptions and physical therapy
- Ant referrals to other specialists
- An account of the events that led to the injury
- The severity of the injuries and whether any additional medical care is needed
- Effects of the injuries on your livelihood and quality of your life
The report the auto accident doctor writes you can help your case. Your primary care physician may not document everything you need to make a claim. Without documentation, you may not have a personal injury case. There are different specialists you can see after an auto accident depending on the nature of the injury. Some of these specialists include:
- Orthopedic: If you have broken bones and your require surgery, an orthopedic can help you. Most orthopedics might require that you bring your attorney as they do not treat on a lien. The doctor will give you the treatment you need.
- Neurologist: A neurologist comes in handy when the accident affects your brain, spinal cord, or nerves. They may also help if you have muscular damages. An issue such as a concussion needs the attention of a neurologist.
- Pain Management Physician: These are physicians who specialize in managing pain. They will prescribe medication to help alleviate pain and they can also inject epidural steroids to treat inflammation on your back, neck, and arm.
- Physical Therapist: A physical therapist teaches you how to keep the levels of pain low and achieve long term health benefits. They will assess your injuries and develop a treatment plan to help you move better, restore function, relieve pain, and prevent disability.
- Chiropractors: If you have spine misalignment, a chiropractor will manipulate the spine to push it back to its shape. A chiropractor doesn’t use any drugs or surgery. Through their treatment techniques, they can reduce inflammation, scar tissue, and restore your range of motion.
You have to be honest with the doctor if you need your personal injury case to be strong. If, for instance, you have pre-existing injuries, let the doctor know.
When to seek the help of an auto accident doctor
It is advisable that you see an auto accident doctor immediately even if you only suffered minor injuries. Some injuries may not show symptoms immediately. A concussion, for instance, appears as a mild headache before it exacerbates to dizziness and other symptoms. As such, you need to see a doctor for them to perform tests and ensure that you are good to go.
In most states, you need to see an auto accident doctor within 14 days. But why wait for so long?
Note that, the longer you wait before visiting a doctor, the more challenging your personal injury case gets. If you suffer soft tissue injuries, which are challenging to prove, waiting for too long might hurt your case. If you cannot see a doctor the same day, go see them the following day. Delaying could cost you thousands of dollars as the insurance may not pay your claims due to lack of sufficient evidence.
Once you visit an auto accident doctor, be sure to:
- Show up for all doctor appointments
- Follow all the instructions by the physician
- Show up at the doctor’s office on time
- Follow through your treatment plan
Not doing any of the above can hurt your case. There is an auto accident doctor for any type of accident injury. These injuries range from simple cuts and bruises to traumatic brain injury and concussions and others.
These doctors can treat you under an attorney or medical lien until you get compensation. A medical lien is a guarantee that you will pay the money. An attorney lien is a guarantee by the attorney that the doctor will receive payment after the case is settled.