After being involved in an accident, there are so many different questions running through your mind. One of those questions is this: “Do I need to see a specific doctor, or will any doctor do?”
The answer: It depends on the nature of your injury. Initially, any type of doctor will be fine, as long as you seek medical treatment. Typically, many people make a trip to the emergency room following an accident. The earlier you receive care and treatment for your injuries, the faster you can get back to your normal life.
Making a visit to the emergency room immediately following an accident can help you determine what your injuries are and how they should be treated. Although it is important that you seek medical treatment, emergency room doctors are not specialists, so it is always a good idea to see your physician or a specialty doctor following your emergency room visit.
Your injuries may be more evident one or two days after your accident. You may be in shock immediately after, which could make your injuries seem less painful or serious than they actually are.
So why see an emergency room doctor?
The main responsibility of the first medical professionals that treat you following an accident is to ensure that you are physically stable. After you are deemed stable, you should be referred to a specific doctor that will look after to your injuries. If you are not given a referral, you should ask the first responder exactly who you should go see and who they would recommend. These medical professionals may include a neurologist, chiropractor, orthopedic doctor, or physical therapist.
Proper documentation is necessary to prove you received medical treatment following an accident. If you do not have documentation for your injuries and treatment, there is no proof that the injuries you sustained were related to your accident.
Wherever you decide to go, it is crucial that you seek medical treatment following an accident. You should also contact an experienced personal injury attorney to help you work through this process, as mistakes can be made during the time that you need to focused on healing.