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7 Treatments You Might Need After Being In A Car Accident

Two people seeking medical car after an accident

Every day, countless car accidents are happening around the world. Most of these mishaps are minor and involve fender benders, with the parties involved moving away from the scenes unscathed. However, several crashes and collisions could result in injuries and require medical treatment and, in extreme cases, even emergency care and hospitalization. 

If you find yourself in an automobile mishap that resulted in injuries, you should call the authorities and seek medical help, even for minor injuries. To learn more about the different treatments you might need after a car accident, read on!

1. Urgent or Emergency Care

It’s always prudent to seek urgent care for bruises and other minor health problems immediately after a car accident. Regardless of how small the wound is, it’s essential that a medical professional can check and assess the injury’s condition. You can never be too sure if the simple bump in your head or emotional anxiety you’re feeling right after the accident is just temporary or could give rise to more severe conditions in the future.

For example, many concussions that may feel insignificant immediately after a car crash may require further testing and treatment to prevent future complications and problems. If you’re interested in learning more about concussions, their symptoms, and even their legal implications, you may want to visit this helpful resource

If your injuries are more severe, you may need to visit the emergency room for adequate care and assessment. So, if parts of your body feel numb, if you feel severe pain anywhere in your body, if you think that some bones in your body are fractured, or if you see blood gushing out from somewhere, you need immediate care and may require an ambulance. 

Besides, securing a medical assessment from a hospital or clinic may be necessary to claim no-fault insurance coverage. If you feel that you’re an aggrieved party, a medical certificate is indispensable for bodily injury claims. 

2. Medications

Aches and pains from bruises and bumps or even wounds are widespread in car accidents. Thus, after an auto mishap, a typical treatment course is medication, such as prescription drugs to address pain, antibiotics to prevent infection, and some other medicines to manage or control other symptoms. 

Some victims may even require medication for post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSD) or phobia as ongoing care after an accident. 

3. Medical Equipment

It’s also typical for car accident victims to leave the emergency room or an urgent care clinic with medical equipment. Some might require the temporary use of crutches or wheelchairs. Other victims might even need a brace or a boot, or other devices to assist in the healing process of a broken bone, a sprain, a neck injury, or any other conditions acquired from a car crash or other automobile accidents. 

4. Hospitalization

Although most motor vehicle accident injuries are minor, several people need hospitalization for further observation. For example, suppose your head trauma symptoms are severe or ongoing even after the initial medical intervention or the diagnostic results obtained are inconclusive. In that case, it’s natural for your attending physician to require you to spend a couple of days of hospitalization for monitoring or to stabilize your condition. Some people, especially those who are unconscious, may even need to stay in intensive care until their vitals are stabilized or for the doctor to monitor the situation closely. 

Hospitalization, mainly staying in the ICU, can be very costly. Still, it’s necessary to ensure your safety. Take note that if you are to file for insurance claims, you need to keep all documents related to your hospitalization. 

5. Surgery

Some injuries from motor vehicle accidents are fatal and require surgery. Those who suffer from internal injuries, compound fractures, amputations, and specific brain traumas may need surgical intervention immediately after the mishap or later after monitoring and assessment. 

Some standard surgical procedures required after a car crash include brain surgery, back or spine surgery, amputation, stabilization of bone fractures, surgery for torn or ripped ligaments or muscles, and, sometimes, even plastic surgery for those who suffered from burns or disfigurement.

Most surgical procedures are expensive and will require days, weeks, or even months of rehabilitation and care. Undergoing such procedures would mean a loss of income for many people. Thus, it isn’t surprising if many car crash victims would want to wriggle themselves out of surgical procedures if they can. However, doctors usually require this type of treatment because it’s necessary to prevent future complications and aggravation of conditions brought about by vehicular accidents.

6. Rehabilitation

Even after medication, hospitalization, or surgery, some people who suffered from automobile disasters still need rehabilitative care to regain complete control of their physical functions. Those who were in a cast for broken bones or those who suffered a brain injury are examples of victims who’ll require physical therapy or occupational therapy. Most rehabilitation treatments entail regular and consistent treatment for weeks and months to ensure complete recovery.

Other than physical rehabilitation, some may require mental health care after car accidents, especially for those who suffer from phobias or PTSD. Aside from medication, these individuals also need psychotherapy for weeks or months to regain their emotional wellbeing and improve their mental health.

7. Continuing Care

Aside from death, there are other conditions due to fatal vehicular mishaps that are permanent and will necessitate continuing care. For example, those who have suffered from critical neck and spine injury, paralysis, amputations of limbs, or blunt force trauma may suffer from disabilities that need ongoing physical and mental care for several years or, sometimes, even for a lifetime. 

Sadly, the ongoing care cost of permanent disability due to motor vehicle accidents can surge to hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of dollars. And, this cost may not even include loss of livelihood or capacity to earn.

Bottom Line

If you find yourself in a vehicular accident, you need various treatments to ensure that you’re physically and mentally fit. Wounds and bumps from the accident may indicate more severe injuries, which is why one can never be too sure. 

Victims must get a comprehensive treatment program. Apart from first aid or emergency care, many car crash victims need medications, medical equipment use, hospitalization, surgery, physical and mental rehabilitation, and even continuing care.