Getting treated after an injury

You’ve been in a car accident.  Your car has been damaged or destroyed.  The police have taken your statement and moved on.  You’re injured.  Now what?

Immediately after the accident you may have gone to the hospital for emergency treatment, or to be checked over.  Once released from the hospital, go and see your regular family physician, and if you don’t have one, get one – preferably a doctor with some expertise with motor vehicle injuries.

Describe the collision to your doctor in detail, and explain your injuries and how they are affecting you.  Some of your symptoms might not present right away.  If your condition changes, go back and get them checked out.  

Don’t forget about your mental health!  A violent injury will commonly trigger psychological problems, including depression, paranoia, fearfulness, nightmares, and post-traumatic stress disorder.  Not being able to work, or move, and being in constant pain is a recipe for problems.  If you are experiencing problems, ask your doctor for a referral to a specialist.  You don’t need to suffer alone.

Follow your doctor’s recommendations.  If your doctor says not to work, don’t work.  If your doctor tells you to go to physiotherapy, go to physiotherapy.  If your doctor gives you a prescription, get it filled.

If you don’t follow your doctor’s advice, you are opening up the argument that you aren’t really injured, or that your injuries are the result of you not getting them treated.  Don’t ignore your doctor’s advice.
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Your doctor’s notes will eventually form an important record of your injuries, so make sure you are advocating for yourself – get the doctor to take good notes and provide you with prescriptions for the therapy you need.

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