How Are Injuries Evaluated After Accidents?

You might already know you need to see a doctor after an accident whether you feel pain or not. But what does this evaluation entail, and how do doctors know what you need to recover safely after an accident?

Choosing to see a doctor after an accident is crucial to your health. Whether you’ve been in a car accident or experienced another type of accidental injury, it’s always best to visit a medical practitioner to ensure your wellness and safe recovery.

Injury and Health Urgent Care offers post-accident evaluations to determine if you’re experiencing serious or even minor injuries. We can also help you find the treatment that’s best for your recovery and assist you in finding legal representation and/or working with your insurance company.

Melissa Kempf, MD, and Shannon Wait, DNP, APRN, FNP-C, often perform these evaluations and know what goes into determining what patients need after they’ve been in an accident. At Injury and Health Urgent Care, you’re in good hands.

Why you must seek an evaluation after an accident

Not every accident ends in an apparent injury. Many people walk away from the event and go about their days simply because they don’t notice any pain or discomfort. This is a mistake.

For one, you could be dealing with an injury that won’t flare up and cause discomfort until later. And if the issue isn’t documented right away, you might miss out on coverage for your medical treatment. Additionally, people who find out they have an injury after the fact often deal with worse symptoms than those who get treated right away.

So, it’s always best to get evaluated right after an accident. But how are injuries assessed at a clinic like ours?

Understanding a post-accident evaluation entails

During your initial post-accident evaluation, we start with a discussion of the accident. We might ask questions about where the accident occurred, who hit whom, and where you remember being struck during the crash.

We’ll also discuss your symptoms and conduct a thorough physical exam. Based on the results, our providers determine which diagnostic test(s) are most helpful for your situation, which may include:

X-rays
Neurological exams
EEGs
Lab tests
CT scans
MRIs

Once these tests are ordered, we’ll explain the process of diagnosing your injuries and when to expect test results. We’ll also discuss whether to contact your insurance company and how best to do so.

What injury evaluations do for you

Without a proper evaluation, you could miss a problem only an MRI or other imaging study might catch. It’s also possible your accident has left you physically safe but emotionally traumatized.

At Injury and Health Urgent Care, we help people avoid serious problems related to accidents by diagnosing and treating issues early.

Whatever your situation, getting a thorough evaluation after an accident is always important. You might not be able to see every way this experience affected you, and it’s our job to look for the invisible issues.

To learn more, visit Injury and Health Urgent Care in San Antonio, Texas. Call or make an appointment online today. We’re here to help.