Should I Seek Help at an Emergency Room or Urgent Care After My Accident?
An accident can happen in a split second, leaving you in a daze. Following an accident, you may be startled by what just happened, unable to think clearly. Before you take any measures to legally protect yourself, you should seek medical attention. But should you visit the emergency room or urgent care center?
In this blog, our Anderson personal injury lawyers will discuss what type of facility you should visit based on your injuries and the benefits and drawbacks of each.
When Should I Visit the Emergency Room?
In 2021, approximately 139.8 million people visited the emergency room, with 40 million visits being injury-related. An emergency room visit should be reserved for any life-threatening injuries. If paramedics are called to the accident scene, you will be assessed and sent by ambulance to the ER. Paramedics can and will administer treatment in the ambulance, allowing you to receive care immediately.
Even if an ambulance was not present at the scene, if you are experiencing any of the following symptoms or injuries, an ER visit may be warranted:
- Trouble breathing
- Loss of consciousness or seizure (could be a sign of head trauma)
- Severe or persistent abdominal pain
- Coughing up or vomiting blood
- Excessive or uncontrollable bleeding
- Broken bones or dislocated joints
- Numbness or paralysis
Emergency room drawbacks? While the emergency room is intended for life-threatening injuries, ER physicians do prioritize patients based on the severity of injuries. So, if a doctor determines that your injuries are less serious, you could end up waiting a long time to be seen. Another downside? ER doctors typically treat multiple patients at once, so it is possible that an issue could be missed during an initial examination. Also, ER services are expensive on most insurance plans, making this option unaffordable for many.
The sooner after your accident that you are examined by a medical professional, the sooner you can begin receiving treatment for your condition. Although costly, any medical imaging or testing that is performed can be used as evidence when submitting a claim.
When Should I Visit Urgent Care?
If you experience any of the following injuries or symptoms, you should go directly to urgent care:
- Sprains
- Strains
- Lacerations
- Contusions
- Non-severe headaches
- Minor abdominal pain
- Any injuries that are not life-threatening
Generally, you should receive medical care within three days of an accident. If you suffered injuries that require medical attention but do not pose an immediate concern, you should go to an urgent care center. Urgent care centers offer convenience, allowing patients to be seen that day, often without requiring an appointment.
Urgent care drawbacks? An urgent care physician will not be familiar with your past medical history. If the doctor wants to prescribe you a medication, you will need to provide a list of your current medications to avoid drug interactions. You will also want to provide a list of your allergies to avoid any serious side effects. Additionally, although most urgent care centers do have access to medical imaging, urgent care is not equipped to handle severe injuries.
Consult with an Anderson Personal Injury Lawyer Today
When someone suffers a personal injury, it may not always be obvious what type of medical treatment should be sought. If you have fallen victim to an accident or injury, our team of legal professionals is ready to assist you. To schedule your consultation with one of our Anderson personal injury lawyers, (https://www.bradleyandperkins.com/contact) or by phone today.