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(281) 587-1111
(281) 587-1111
July 13, 2018 by Greg Baumgartner
After a car accident in which you are injured, the vast majority of the time, you will end up in the emergency room. Emergency rooms serve a vital function by providing care and injury assessment early after a collision. Should you go to the ER after a car accident if you were hurt? Yes.
Many people misunderstand what it means to be “discharged” from the emergency room. This article gives tips for getting treatment after an injury accident.
Yes, if you have sustained or even suspect an injury, do not take a chance with your health. Visiting the hospital is probably unnecessary if you are not injured and experiencing no discomfort.
Yet, time and again, we see people who thought they were not hurt right after the crash having major issues the next day or two. When in doubt, don’t take the chance is our advice.
Go to the ER after a car accident if the impact was major or if you feel any discomfort.
Emergency rooms act as triage, trying to determine the severity of the injury as soon as possible. Emergency rooms are not designed to render ongoing care except in the most serious of cases, where immediate surgery is required or the condition is life-threatening.
Be prepared for a long wait unless the staff deems your condition emergent. In Houston, TX, waiting to be seen can take hours.
If your injury is not deemed life-threatening or requires immediate treatment, you will likely be discharged with instructions to follow up with your primary care doctor or a specialist.
The biggest mistake personal injury attorneys see is the injured person not taking action to receive needed follow-up treatment after being discharged from the emergency room after an accident.
Follow up with the appropriate medical provider as soon as possible after being released.
When you are first transported to the hospital, you will be given many forms to sign for treatment. If you have health insurance, ensure that the hospital will bill your insurance directly.
Some Texas hospitals refuse to bill health insurance when they learn the person was injured in an accident like an 18-wheeler wreck, where the negligent party may have substantial insurance coverage.
Sign no assignment of benefits if you can avoid it, and submit the hospital bills yourself to your health insurer. Also, follow up on the hospital bill payment by your health insurance.
In Texas, hospitals are allowed to file a hospital lien. The hospital lien statute offers hospitals priority over you or other claimants in accident settlements.
Unfortunately, many hospitals have taken advantage of the power of the hospital lien and charge uninsured victims full rates that are often excessive. The good news is that you or your car accident lawyer can often negotiate to reduce excessive hospital charges.
If the hospital files a lien, always contact the hospital regarding a reduction of full billing amounts. Also, always provide your attorney with any correspondence about the hospital bill.
Inevitably, a nurse or other medical professional will ask you questions about the crash. You should keep the response brief on how the accident happened. Statements such as “I was rear-ended” or “he T-boned me” are okay, but long-winded descriptions of the accident can only hurt your injury claim.
Doctors and nurses don’t care about the facts on the cause of the crash, as they are there to treat your injuries. Unfortunately, if you give a lengthy account of what happened, it only increases the chances that a nurse will paraphrase your description to your detriment.
If the statement is in your medical records, you will live with it. Statements on the stand, such as “I did not say that,” are seldom believed by a jury if the medical records contradict them.
Keep what you say about the collision short, true, and concise, or it will be used against you!
It is human nature to focus on the most painful areas. However, when being examined in the emergency room after an accident, you should mention every area of discomfort or pain, even if it seems relatively insignificant. Case after case has proven that items that are not initially the most painful can become chronic and a problem later on.
If you do not mention an area of discomfort in your initial doctor visit, you can be assured the insurance company will dispute the later identified injury.
Always tell the doctors about every area of discomfort or pain.
Get a Free Consultation about a personal injury in Houston. Call Baumgartner Law Firm in Houston for a no-obligation consultation about your rights, options, and next steps if another’s negligence hurts you. Call (281) 587-1111
6711 Cypress Creek Pkwy, Houston, TX, 77069
Since establishing Baumgartner Law Firm in 1985, Greg Baumgartner has built a reputation as one of Houston’s leading personal injury attorneys, dedicated to representing severely injured victims and families who have lost loved ones due to negligence.
Greg holds two law degrees, a distinction earned by less than 1% of all attorneys, demonstrating his exceptional legal expertise. He is also a prestigious Trial Lawyers College graduate, further enhancing his skills in trial advocacy and litigation.
His relentless commitment to legal excellence and client advocacy has earned him recognition from prestigious organizations, including Super Lawyers, the Top 100 Trial Lawyers, and many others.
With decades of experience, Greg has consistently received top peer reviews. He holds a preeminent rating, a testament to his unwavering dedication to securing justice and maximum compensation for his clients.
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