How Do I Get Medical Help After a Crash If I Don’t Have a Primary Care Physician?

Driver injured after a car crash

You may wonder where you should seek medical care if you do not have a primary care physician (PCP). The truth is that even if you do have a PCP, it is often better to be seen by a specialist.

A PCP may know your medical history, but a specialist may be trained to identify and treat car accident injuries. A specialist will be able to prescribe the appropriate course of treatment and will make detailed notes about your prognosis, which can be extremely useful during the claims process.

If you have been injured in a car accident in St. Louis, Missouri, that was someone else’s fault, you could be entitled to recover compensation for your injuries. The dedicated car accident attorneys at the Sumner Law Group, LLC, are prepared to fight tirelessly on your behalf to seek the compensation you need to recover from your injuries.

Contact us today for a free consultation.

Why Follow-Up Care Is Necessary After a Car Accident

Car accidents can be stressful, and you may be tempted to forego follow-up care so that you can just move on, especially if your injuries seem minor. But declining to get follow-up care is a bad idea.

Follow-up medical care gives you the best chance of making a full recovery. You may also begin to show symptoms from delayed injuries, such as whiplash or a brain injury, which could show up days, weeks, or even months after an accident. Out of an abundance of caution, it’s best to seek follow-up medical care and follow your doctor’s orders.

If you plan to seek compensation to cover the cost of your losses, you will need to furnish insurers with medical documentation that contains evidence of your injuries. By continuing to seek follow-up care, you will be able to demonstrate the full extent of your injuries to the insurance company, particularly if you sustain delayed injuries.

How an Attorney Can Help You Find a Doctor After a Car Accident

There are a variety of reasons why you should consult with an attorney after a car accident, but one of the most significant ones is that your attorney can help you seek out a specialist who can give you the best possible care for your specific injuries while also providing you with the detailed documentation you need to support your injury claim.

Why Seeing a Specialist Might Be Better Than a Primary Care Physician

You should visit a specialist after a car accident because:

  • Specialists have experience treating traumatic car accident injuries.
  • Since specialists can often immediately identify the nature of your injury, they can begin treatment right away.
  • Specialists know what information they need to document for your claim.
  • Specialists usually accept auto insurance coverage.
  • Specialists are usually willing to provide expert testimony on your behalf. This is some of the strongest evidence you can obtain to support your claim.

What If My Insurance Company Says I Have to See Their Doctor?

In some cases, insurance companies may want you to see a doctor they select, even if another physician has already seen and diagnosed you. They typically do this because they are looking out for their bottom line. They want to confirm that your injuries are legitimate and as severe as you claim they are.

Even if the insurance company requires you to see a doctor of its choosing, you should still see your own specialist first. All medical documentation, including documentation from your specialist, can be included as evidence in your claim. Having a record of your injuries and treatments from a specialist who is not affiliated with the insurer can be very beneficial to your case.

Contact a Car Accident Lawyer Today

If you have sustained injuries in a car accident in St. Louis or surrounding areas, contact the attorneys at Sumner Law Group, LLC, today. We have the knowledge and resources necessary to investigate the accident, gather evidence to support your claim, and aggressively pursue the compensation you deserve.

Contact our offices today for a free consultation.

Brent Sumner

Brent A. Sumner is the Managing Partner at Sumner Law Group, LLC. He focuses his practice exclusively on cases that involve serious personal injuries. Over the years, he has successfully represented thousands of individuals and families, recovering millions of dollars in compensation for injured accident victims.