Emergency Room Treatment After an Accident in Missouri & Kansas
If you are wondering whether you need to go to the emergency room after an accident in Kansas City, the answer is probably “yes.” It is better to be safe than sorry.
You could have sustained a severe injury, but the shock and rush of adrenaline caused by an accident could mask some injury symptoms. It is always best to be checked by a physician as soon as possible after an accident.
If you have questions about your treatment after an accident, contact our Kansas City personal injury attorney at 816-203-0143 for a free case review. Our law firm would be happy to help you navigate the legal process and options for getting the medical care.
Types of Kansas City Accidents and Injuries That Require Emergency Treatment
Numerous types of accidents can result in a trip to the emergency room. Common causes of ER visits include, but are not limited to:
- Car accidents
- Slips and falls
- Dog bites
- Motorcycle crashes
- Pedestrian accidents
- Defective product accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Truck accidents
- Playground accidents or other child injuries
Any accident could result in severe injuries. Unfortunately, you may not realize the severity of your injuries until a doctor performs a complete examination. Refusing medical care after an accident could result in a life-threatening situation.
Examples of severe injuries that might require emergency room treatment include:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Internal organ damage or failure
- Burns
- Amputations
- Neck, back, & spine injuries
- Paralysis
- Broken bones
Injuries from accidents can result in permanent impairments and disabilities. Prompt medical treatment after an accident is the best way to improve your odds of making a full recovery. Additionally, delays in medical care could hurt your chances of holding the person responsible for your injuries financially liable for your damages.
What Should You Do When You Get to the Emergency Room After an Accident?
When you are in the emergency room, what you say can have a significant impact on a personal injury case.
Make sure that you tell the emergency room staff that your injuries were sustained in an accident. However, do not discuss the details of the accident unless it relates directly to your injuries. You do not want to say something that could imply you were at fault for your injuries. Instead, focus on explaining your injuries and symptoms in as much detail as possible.
Tell the doctors and nurses in the emergency room about all symptoms you experience, regardless of whether you believe the symptom is serious or minor. Aches and pains after an accident are common and to be expected. However, minor aches and pains could indicate a severe injury.
Your symptoms could worsen in the days and weeks following the accident. Having medical records notating symptoms immediately following the accident assists in proving the accident caused your injuries, which is essential if you want to recover damages from the party who caused your injury.
Be Prepared for Diagnostic Tests at the Emergency Room
The emergency room physicians may need to run several tests to diagnose your injuries. Depending on your symptoms, the doctors could order x-rays, CT Scans, MRIs, and ultrasounds.
Diagnostic tests are used to detect accident injuries including:
- Fractures and broken bones
- Brain damage
- Internal bleeding
- Spinal cord injuries
- Organ damage
- Herniated discs
- Soft tissue damage
These diagnostic tests can identify injuries that might not be visually apparent. Without the tests, the doctors could miss an injury that might become life-threatening if left untreated.
Verify Follow Up Instructions Before Leaving the Emergency Room
Some accident victims are admitted to the hospital through the emergency room. Depending on the severity of the accident injuries, they may require emergency surgery. Other individuals may require monitoring or other treatment that is only available as an in-patient.
If you are released from the emergency room, make sure that you discuss follow-up instructions with the emergency room physician. In most cases, ER doctors advise seeing your family physician or a specialist for follow-up treatment.
However, you may also be given instructions for care until you see another doctor. It is important to follow these instructions to avoid further injury. It is also important to keep your follow-up appointments for further evaluation and treatment.
The failure to follow a treatment plan or seek medical care could be used as a defense in a personal injury case.
The other party may argue that you made your injuries worse by failing to follow the doctor’s instructions. They may argue that your injuries would not be as severe had you followed the doctor’s treatment plan or sought prompt medical attention after the accident.
Therefore, you are partially at fault for the severity of your injuries. If that is the case, the compensation you receive for a personal injury claim may be reduced for failing to mitigate your damages.
Contact a Kansas City Personal Injury Attorney for a Free Consultation
Legal advice from an experienced personal injury attorney in Kansas City is also an important step to take after an accident. Understanding your legal rights and the steps you need to take following an injury improves your chances of recovering fair compensation for your financial losses, injuries, and other damages.
Contact The Law Office of Kevin J. McManus to request your free consultation with a Kansas City accident attorney by calling 816-203-0143 or completing our online contact form. Our legal team will help you fight for the compensation you deserve after an accident injury.
