Should I Go to the Emergency Room or Urgent Care After an Accident?

Following a car accident, you may be in shock. If an ambulance is not called to the scene, an injured driver or passenger will need to evaluate their injuries. While this can be difficult to do, knowing what signs to look for can mean the difference between life and death.

Although your first instinct may be to visit the emergency room following a car accident, emergency rooms often have high volumes of patients. The numbers do not lie, with UC Davis Medical Center reporting 313 ER patients in a single day in May 2023.

In this article, our California car accident lawyers discuss when you should visit an emergency room versus urgent care.

Should I Visit the Emergency Room?

If anyone is seriously injured following a car crash, someone should call 911. Paramedics will be sent to the accident scene, evaluate injuries, and bring individuals to the emergency room.

However, if paramedics are not called to the scene, you should still go to the ER if you are experiencing any of the following symptoms:

• Loss of movement
• Exaggerated reflexes or spasms
• Difficulty breathing
• Loss of bladder or bowel control
• Loss of sensation
• Difficulty balancing or walking

These symptoms can indicate a spinal cord injury. An ER doctor will assess your injuries and order medical imaging to confirm a diagnosis.

Other symptoms that may warrant an ER visit may include:

• Broken bones
• Loss of consciousness
• Confusion
• Nausea or vomiting
• Severe abdominal pain
• Chest pain

These symptoms can indicate a host of medical conditions that require prompt medical attention.

Urgent Care

In minor accidents, a visit to the hospital may be unnecessary. If you have only gotten scratched up or bruised, it may be a good idea to visit an urgent care center. An urgent care center is staffed with physicians and other medical professionals who can evaluate your condition.

While you may consider setting up an appointment with your primary care doctor, you may have to wait days before you can be seen. Alternatively, many urgent care centers allow walk-ins and are open after normal business hours.

An urgent care center does come with drawbacks. Unlike your primary care doctor, an urgent care physician will be unfamiliar with any prior medical conditions or medications you are taking. To safely treat you, you need to provide the urgent care physician with a list of your current medications.

What If I am Still Unsure Where I Should Go?

If you suffered an injury and are unsure how serious your injuries are, you should call your primary care physician. If it is during regular business hours, a staff member can assist you. Be sure to relay that you were in a car collision and any primary symptoms you are experiencing.

Speak with our California Car Accident Lawyers Today

Many car accident victims have no idea what to do following a car crash. While the thought of needing surgery may be terrifying, it is crucial that you receive a medical assessment after a traumatic event.

If you have recently been in a car accident in Ventura or the surrounding areas, our car accident lawyers want to hear from you. To schedule your complimentary consultation, contact the office today online or by phone.