After a personal injury or accident at your workplace, it is imperative that you seek out medical attention. Not only can quick medical intervention help preserve function after a serious injury, but an evaluation by a professional can provide key evidence if you decide to move forward with an injury claim. In today’s blog, we explain where you should seek out medical care if you’ve suffered a personal injury.
Getting Medical Care For Your Injuries
When it comes to getting medical care after an injury or accident, the single best thing you can do is receive this care in a timely manner. The sooner you get an evaluation and treatment, the better it will be for your long term health. Getting prompt medical attention also helps with your injury case, because if you wait days or weeks to seek treatment, the insurance company may deny your claim on the basis that your injuries could have arisen from some other incident, or that your injuries aren’t as serious as you claim because you took so long to seek out care. So we’ve established that you should seek medical care sooner rather than later, but now the question becomes where should you go for care?
Serious, Severe and Imminent – If your injuries are serious, severe or present an imminent threat to your health, you should seek care from an emergency department. The quickest way to see a doctor or a surgeon is through an emergency department. You may be sent there in an ambulance or driven there by another party, but if you have open wounds, suspected fractures or other symptoms that suggest a serious health issue, do not wait to see your primary care physician. Head to an emergency room to receive care and have your injuries documented.
Manageable Pain – If you are in pain, but it seems manageable in the short term, you can probably get by without a visit to the emergency department. However, that doesn’t mean you should put off a visit with a specialist. As soon as possible, set up an appointment with your primary care physician or an urgent care facility in your area if your doctor can’t see you for a couple of days. Prompt documentation of all injuries is necessary for revealing the severity and extent of your injuries so that an accurate claim can be developed.
One thing we’ve noticed with some injured clients is that they are a bit hesitant to seek out medical care because they are afraid of the costs. This is especially true if they believe that their injuries could keep them out of work and affect their income, because they are afraid of adding another bill at a time when money could quickly become tight. We understand that reasoning, but this line of thinking could actually cost you a lot more money in the long run if your decision not to seek care results in a smaller claim award or an outright denial of benefits.
It’s important to remember that you will be reimbursed for necessary medical expenses related to your injury. It doesn’t matter if it’s an out of network care provider or an emergency surgery bill, if it was required as a result of your injury, your medical expenses will be accounted for when determining an injury award. As long as the care is necessary, you can recoup the costs, so don’t avoid a doctor because you are afraid of a medical bill, because it could negate your ability to get the compensation you deserve if you decide to file for compensation later.
So if you suffer a personal injury, assess your injuries and seek prompt medical care at an emergency department, an urgent care facility or with your primary care physician if they can see you within a few days. Do not give the insurance company a reason to deny your injury award. For more information about where to turn for medical care or legal advice after a personal or work injury, reach out to the experienced injury lawyers at Hey Workers today.
