Attorneys
After a car crash, one of the first questions many people ask is whether they should go to the emergency room or visit an urgent care clinic. If you or a loved one is experiencing pain at the scene of the crash, it is generally best to allow an ambulance to transport you to the nearest emergency room. If you initially feel fine but develop pain later, seek medical treatment as soon as possible.
Every day, approximately 150 car crashes are reported to authorities across Iowa, with many more collisions never being reported. Some crashes result in only minor vehicle damage, while others cause life-changing injuries or even fatalities.
Some car crashes are minor and cause little or no damage to the vehicles or occupants, while others are devastating, causing lifelong injuries or death. Have you ever heard the term that you cannot judge a book by its cover? The same applies to car crashes. Some people walk away from a horrific crash that totals both vehicles with few injuries, while others suffer serious injuries in crashes that appear relatively minor.
Why You Shouldn't Wait to Seek Medical Treatment
It is common for adrenaline to mask pain immediately after a collision. You may believe you are uninjured at the scene, only to later develop neck pain, back pain, or other severe pain hours later.
If pain develops after the crash, don't wait. Immediately seek medical care and go to the local emergency room or urgent care clinic. This is important for both your health and your personal injury claim.
For example, imagine you develop back pain after a car accident but decide to return to work instead of seeing a doctor and seeking treatment. If your job involves heavy lifting and you don't seek medical treatment until after working for a day or two, the other driver's insurance company may see this as a red flag and argue that your physically demanding job, not the crash, caused your injuries.
You know that you were not injured at work, so turning in a workers’ compensation claim is probably not the right thing to do, but you have created a problem that could have been avoided.
Should You Go to the Emergency Room or Urgent Care?
Seeking treatment as soon as symptoms arise following a car crash is the smartest thing that you can do, not only for your health, but for your claim against the other driver.
In many cases, the choice between the two may not make a significant difference. However, most urgent care clinics do not have MRI scanners or other specialized diagnostic equipment that may be needed to fully evaluate certain injuries. While urgent care may be less expensive initially, you could still be referred to an emergency room for additional testing or treatment.
The most important decision is not always which one you choose, but that you seek medical care as soon as symptoms develop.
Five Important Treatment Steps After an Iowa Car Accident
1. Tell Your Medical Providers About Every Symptom
Be sure to tell your doctors, nurses, and other medical providers about all of the pain and symptoms you are experiencing.
Many people find it helpful to write down every symptom they are having before their appointment. You may be nervous talking to your doctors and nurses, or they may have limited time during your visit. Having a written list ensures nothing important is overlooked or forgotten.
2. Follow Your Doctor's Orders
If your doctor refers you to physical therapy or another form of treatment, follow those recommendations!
Failing to follow doctors’ orders can affect both your recovery and your injury claim. Insurance adjusters may question the seriousness of your injuries if you choose not to follow your doctor's recommendations.
If your case ends up in litigation, failing to follow medical, under Iowa law, you can be found partially at fault. This is commonly referred to as failing to mitigate your damages, and you can be assessed a percentage of comparative fault for doing so.
For example, if you have $100,000 in damages and are found to be 20% at fault for failing to follow your doctor's orders, net recovery would only be $80,000 minus attorneys' fees, costs, etc. Following your treatment plan helps protect your health and avoids the costly mistake of being found partially at fault.
3. Continue Treatment if Your Symptoms Persist
If you continue experiencing pain after completing physical therapy or another course of treatment, don't assume you have to live with the pain.
If you are not 100% better, let your physical therapist know you are still having problems, and schedule an appointment with your doctor. Depending on your condition, additional treatment options may be recommended, including chiropractic care, deep tissue massage, pain management, or referral to a surgeon, etc. If you are not 100% better, but fail to seek additional medical care promptly, then your health may suffer, and the value of your case may decline.
Your primary focus after a car accident should be making the fullest recovery possible. If you choose to work with a qualified Iowa personal injury attorney, they can focus on protecting your legal rights while you focus on your medical care and receive the compensation that you deserve.
4. Consider Getting a Second Opinion
If you are not getting better or are uncertain about your diagnosis or treatment options, consider seeking a second opinion.
For example, if your PCP (primary care doctor aka family physician) refers you to a surgeon who believes surgery will not help, you may want to consult another surgeon to confirm that this is the correct opinion or to explore possible surgical procedures to fix your problem. Your health is too important not to ask questions and to pursue your right to a second opinion if you are not satisfied with what you have heard.
5. Properly Researching Your Condition and Asking Questions
Many people search online for information about their symptoms after a car accident. Researching your symptoms and problems on Google may scare you, but it also may help you get the best medical care and treatment possible, as it can help you ask informed questions during your medical appointments.
Rather than relying solely on internet research, use it as a starting point for conversations with your healthcare providers. Ask questions about your condition and treatment options to help find the best way to treat it. Not even the best physicians in the world can stay on top of all the changing medical research available, so be your own best advocate throughout your recovery.
Questions About Medical Treatment After an Iowa Car Accident?
If you have other questions or concerns about medical treatment in your Iowa car crash, then feel free to call our office at 641-792-3595 or Chat Here Now for your No cost, No risk Car Accident Evaluation. You can also contact
If you are not ready to speak with someone but would like to learn more about car crashes in Iowa, then Claim Your Copy of our latest book about Iowa car crashes at www.IowaCarCrash.com. Our book provides you with additional medical recommendations and exposes 7 Secrets to Not Wreck Your Iowa Car Accident case and much more.
