Should You go to the Emergency Room after an Accidental Injury?

If you have suffered injuries in an accident, it is essential that you seek immediate medical treatment and care at a local hospital or nearby urgent care facility. You should take that step even if you are not sure if you have been injured or if you are unaware of the extent of your injuries.

Seeking emergency medical care allows for a physician to diagnose your condition and make a recommendation for future treatment. Also, when it comes time to make a claim, it shows the insurance company that you are being proactive and taking your injury seriously.

A Las Vegas personal injury lawyer at Breeden Malpractice and Personal Injury Law can assist you with making a claim. Call us today at (702) 819-7770 or contact us online for more information.

What Happens at an Initial Medical Visit?

During an initial medical visit following an accident, you will likely be seen by a nurse, as well as a physician or a physician’s assistant. The following will likely occur at that visit:

1. The doctor or physician’s assistant will conduct a thorough medical examination of you
2. The doctor will write down your pain complaints, which will become part of the medical record
3. Imaging studies, such as x-rays, CT scans, or MRIs will likely be performed
4. The doctor or physician’s assistant will make a recommendation about future medical treatment, including physical therapy or following up with a primary care doctor or with a specialist
5. The doctor may prescribe medication, including pain medication or a muscle relaxer, such as Tramadol or Flexeril
6. The doctor will determine whether you need to be admitted to the hospital

When you are being seen by the doctor or physician’s assistant at the emergency room or urgent care facility, it is extremely important that you be clear and precise about your symptoms and other problems. That way, the medical record will accurately reflect how you were feeling at that time. If you later assert a personal injury claim, the at-fault party‘s insurance company will be able to review that record.

What to do After Your Initial Visit

Following your initial medical visit, it is extremely important that you follow through with all of the doctor or physician assistant’s treatment recommendations. You should also fill any prescriptions and take the prescribed medication.

Large gaps in treatment are not viewed in a favorable light by insurance companies. Consequently, you want to make sure that you begin follow-up medical treatment quickly, and that you consult with your primary care doctor if you have one.

Call a Clark County Personal Injury Attorney Today

Seeking initial medical treatment following an accident is one of the most important steps that you can take in your personal injury case. When you obtain medical treatment immediately following an accident, it demonstrates that you may have been injured and that your claim is likely compensable.
The lawyers at Breeden Malpractice and Personal Injury Law can assist you with making your claim. Call us today at (702) 819-7770, or contact us online, for a free legal consultation and case evaluation.