Should I Go to the Emergency Room or Urgent Care Immediately Following My Accident?
If you’ve been injured due to someone else’s negligence, such as another driver’s carelessness in a traffic accident, you may have sustained more serious injuries than you realize. Because your health and well-being lie in the balance, seeking immediate medical attention in response to a personal injury accident is always advised. If someone else’s negligence causes you to be injured, first seek medical care and then reach out for the professional legal guidance of an experienced Charleston personal injury attorney.
Your Condition
If you are obviously injured in an accident – even if you don’t consider the injury serious – it’s time to be seen by a medical practitioner. Physical injuries don’t necessarily shout out exactly how serious they are by presenting with the symptoms you’re expecting. For example, traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are often called silent injuries because they may or may not present with symptoms, and when there are symptoms, they can be difficult to detect. TBIs are some of the most dangerous and unpredictable injuries, and any delay in treatment can prove devastating.
It’s also important to recognize that being injured by someone else’s negligence can send adrenaline coursing through your body and can leave you in a state of shock. Each of these can mask the pain you’re feeling and any symptoms you’re experiencing and, in the process, can interfere with your ability to accurately assess your condition.
If you’ve been involved in an accident with any degree of impact—such as a traffic accident, a workplace accident, or a slip and fall—the best approach is to err on the side of caution by getting checked out by a medical professional sooner rather than later.
If You’re Offered Medical Assistance at the Accident Scene
If the emergency medical techs (EMTS) at the accident scene, such as after a car accident, offer you medical assistance, it’s in your best interest to accept. Taking a wait-and-see approach is not the best way to protect your health or support your recovery. It can also give the at-fault driver’s insurance provider the impression that your injuries aren’t serious—when they may, in fact, be.
The EMTs will help you determine the level of care you need – whether that means urgent care or the emergency room – and they can also transport you if necessary.
Urgent Care vs. the ER
If you need speedy medical attention for something that isn’t life-threatening or potentially very serious, urgent care is almost certainly your best bet. The wait times for urgent care are considerably shorter than they tend to be in the ER, and these facilities generally provide services like the following, which can help get you fixed up until your doctor can see you:
- X-rays
- Stitches
- Treatment for sprains
If, on the other hand, you have a serious injury, such as a serious break, chest discomfort, significant burns, difficulty breathing, significant bleeding, or symptoms associated with a brain injury like memory loss or obvious confusion, it’s time to head straight to the ER. In more serious situations, urgent care is an additional step that can delay treatment and increase the health risks you face.
An Experienced Charleston Personal Injury Attorney Is Standing By to Help
Wyndham Law Firm in Charleston is a trusted personal injury attorney who knows the importance of seeking immediate medical attention after an accident and has the experience and legal insight to ensure that your complete damages, including the full scope of your medical expenses, are well represented in your claim. For more information, don’t wait to contact us online or call 843-279-5312 today.