Getting into a car accident can be overwhelming to say the least. From calls with insurance providers, car rental companies, and sometimes even lawyers, it can be challenging to remember everything you need to do after a car accident.
However, even in the midst of the chaos, it is critical to remember to schedule a doctor’s appointment for your car accident injuries. While you may not be experiencing symptoms immediately after your crash, delayed shock or concussion symptoms can display weeks to months later, extending your recovery time and preventing you from getting back to your daily routine. As you begin your healing journey, here are a few helpful tips to keep in mind when talking to a doctor after a car accident.
What Should I Bring With Me To My Doctor’s Appointment After My Auto Accident?
To ensure your car accident doctor can fully address your health concerns, be sure to come prepared with all your relevant documents, including an agenda, your insurance information, and medical records or medications. After booking your appointment, prepare the following documents:
Important documents to bring with you when seeing a doctor after an accident
- An agenda: Establishing an agenda ahead of your doctor’s visit can ensure you and your physician focus on addressing your car accident injuries and how to alleviate your pain.
- Insurance information: As with any first doctor’s appointment, bring all your insurance information, as well as any existing claim details.
- Medical records and medications: Notifying your auto accident doctor of any preexisting conditions, previous appointments, or medications you are taking can better inform your treatment plan.
Coming prepared with all of your relevant documents and questions can improve your doctor’s appointment experience after your car accident.
How Do I Talk About My Car Accident Injuries With My Doctor?
While it may feel difficult to honestly communicate with your car accident doctor about how you are feeling, the more upfront you are with your symptoms, the more successfully they can treat you. Before digging into the specific symptoms you are experiencing, start by detailing the accident.
What to include when talking about your car accident
- How the accident occurred: A key detail to start with when talking about your accident is the direction of impact and collision type (rear-ended, T-boned, head-on, rolled over, etc.). Doing so can help your doctor anticipate potential mechanisms of injury and draw up a more effective treatment plan that’s tailored to you.
- What damage there was to the vehicle:Describing the damage to your car can also help your doctor better understand the severity of the impact, especially if symptoms have not fully developed yet. Be sure to mention if the vehicle was totaled, if airbags were deployed, or if there was significant damage to the front, rear, or sides.
- What happened upon impact: Finally, explain what your body experienced at the moment of impact as best as you can. For instance, you should let your doctor know if your head snapped forward or backward and whether you hit the steering wheel or dashboard. These details are useful in assessing injuries such as whiplash, concussions, or soft tissue damage and determining whether additional testing or monitoring is needed.
Understanding the mechanics of your accident provides important context, but your symptoms complete the picture. Let’s review how you can describe your symptoms.
How to describe your symptoms clearly
- Locate the feeling: Identifying the general area where you feel your pain, whether that be in your back or your leg, can help your doctor pinpoint what might be causing it.
- Rate the intensity: Using tools such as a pain scale with one being manageable and ten being unbearable can help your medical team understand how to help you with pain management.
- Estimate duration: Giving a timeline of how long you’ve been experiencing your symptoms also helps inform your diagnosis, whether that be a common car accident condition like whiplash or something more complex.
- Identify triggers: If any specific movements or actions worsen your pain, be sure to include that when talking to your doctor after an auto accident.
Describing your symptoms clearly can help your doctor determine your care plan and make your appointment run more smoothly. If you aren’t able to make an appointment immediately, we also recommend tracking your symptoms until you are able to meet with a car accident doctor.
What Should I Ask My Car Accident Doctor?
Knowing what to say to a doctor after your car accident can oftentimes be just as difficult as knowing if you should go to the doctor after an accident in the first place. Choosing the right doctor can make all the difference in your comfortability to ask the questions you care about or request notes for your workplace that explain your injuries.
When it comes to finding the right doctor, there are many benefits to finding a doctor who specializes in car accident injuries. Not only will an auto accident doctor know what warning signs to look for based on their experience, they also know how best to structure your treatment plan, as well as how to work with insurance carriers or personal injury lawyers. Although it may seem like an inconvenience initially, seeing a doctor soon after your accident will serve you more over time. Here are a few questions that could help guide your conversation with your car accident doctor:
Question #1: What are my injuries and how long should I expect my recovery to take?
When you go in for your appointment, be sure to ask your physician what specific injuries you have, as well as how long you can expect your recovery to take. By doing so, you can begin to form better expectations for yourself about how long your recovery process will take and how much your injury will impact your daily functioning. Even relatively common car accident injuries, such as soft tissue damage, can take longer than you expect to heal, but having a better understanding of your diagnosis can help you plan and prepare.
Question #2: Do I need to see a specialist?
Some injuries might require more extensive treatment. In this case, your car accident doctor may recommend you see a specialist, such as a pain management specialist, neurologist, or orthopedic doctor, for additional care. If possible, ask your doctor if they think this care is necessary or simply a helpful option.
Question #3: Will treatment affect my daily routine?
Your treatment plan may impact your ability to perform your job, enjoy your hobbies, or simply go about your daily routine. Asking your doctor about the extent to which your life could change during your treatment can prepare you better for the weeks or months to come. This may include additional rest time or decreasing your physical activity. If your doctor believes your treatment plan might require you to take time off work or spend less time looking at a screen, they may also be able to provide your employer with an official note or documentation.
Question #4: Will I need follow-up appointments?
Most car accident injuries require follow-up appointments. Asking your doctor this question helps you understand how long your treatment may last and what steps are required for a complete recovery. Consistent care also creates important medical documentation, which insurance companies often review when evaluating a claim. Attending all recommended appointments isn’t just important for your long-term health. It also helps simplify the claims process.
There’s No Perfect Way To Talk To A Car Accident Doctor, It’s Just Important That You Do
While there is certainly no singular perfect way to talk to a car accident doctor, it’s important that you make an appointment after your accident, even if you don’;t think you need to as symptoms can worsen over time. Knowing what to bring to your appointment, how to talk to your doctor, and what questions you should ask can help you feel more confident going into your appointment.
For experienced medical professionals who will support you each step of the way during your recovery process, consider booking an appointment with ProCare’s team of injury specialists. Find a car accident doctor near you and start your recovery process today.
FAQs About Helpful Tips for Talking to a Doctor After a Car Accident
Should you go to the doctor after a car accident?
Even if you don’t immediately feel pain, it is important to see a doctor after your car accident. This is due to the fact that many common car accident injuries may not be visible or even painful right after your crash.
How long after an injury should you wait to see a doctor?
Scheduling an appointment as soon as possible, preferably within 24-72 hours, is important to guaranteeing your injuries are treated properly.
What to say to a doctor after a car accident?
When talking with your doctor, be as specific as possible when identifying the injury location, intensity, duration, and triggers of your symptoms. Tell them about how the accident occurred, the type of damage to the vehicle, and what happened upon impact as well. This will help your doctor properly diagnose and plan your treatment.
What to do after a car accident in Texas?
Once you have safely removed yourself from the accident scene and contacted the authorities, schedule an appointment with a car accident doctor to evaluate your injuries or any lingering symptoms. Do this as soon as possible to preserve a simple recovery process.
Should I go to the ER after a car accident?
Potentially. Depending on the extent of your injuries and whether your injuries need immediate acute care, you should go to the ER or an injury specialist as soon as you can after a car accident.
