Choosing to go to an emergency room or an urgent care after a car accident can be difficult. First, know that any time there are life-threatening injuries of any type – such as open wounds, broken bones, or head trauma, the most important place to go is the emergency room. Critical care should not be delayed in any situation.
However, in situations where there is no obvious immediate care need, you may be unsure if you should go to an emergency room or urgent care after a car accident. Several factors must be considered when making this decision. Talk to a Sarasota car accident attorney from Shapiro | Delgado | Hofmann today.
Many urgent care facilities offer limited overall care. They do not have the means to provide anything more than minor care. If you need X-rays, they may be able to help. Most of the time, they do not have complex equipment or the facilities to handle more than minimal care. For the following types of injuries, go to the emergency room:
Remember that many people feel “fine” after an accident. That is the adrenaline in your bloodstream keeping you moving. What you will find is that injuries will become more apparent in the hours after the accident. Unfortunately, many of the most tragic outcomes for car accidents occur when people do not go to the hospital, do not know they have an internal bleed, and suffer for hours before getting care. If you have any questions, go to the ER.
One of the concerns many people have is that it may cost too much to go to the emergency room. If you are in a car accident that another person caused, that person’s liability insurance will cover the medical care you need. That means that you can file a claim for your trip to the ER, and all tests and medical care related to the accident will be included in any settlement you receive.
While the same is true for urgent care visits, be careful about not getting care at all. If you do not go to get medical care right away and try to claim injuries that were not documented by doctors or were not treated immediately, that may lead to some pushback from the insurance company. It could reduce the compensation you are paid.
If you suffer any obvious injuries or struck your head, abdomen, or other area of your body after a car accident, go to the emergency room for care. In a situation where you know an urgent care can offer comprehensive scans, you may be able to go there for some of the care you need. It is always best to play it safe and get comprehensive treatment. Once you have received medical treatment, you should speak with an experienced attorney about your case.
