Where Should I Seek Treatment For My Injuries During Covid-19?

If you are involved in an accident during the pandemic, you probably have a thousand questions! Being in car wreck is stressful enough without the added concern of figuring out where to get the medical treatment you need without exposing yourself to other dangers.

It’s a scary time to visit a hospital. Although medical facilities are taking precautions to keep their patients safe, you may hesitate to walk into a waiting room filled with germs when you need help for your back or neck pain.

Determine the severity of your injuries.

When you’ve been injured in an accident and have to decide where to get treatment, the first thing to consider is the severity of your injuries. There are injuries that absolutely require emergency attention regardless of the virus, such as broken bones, severe lacerations, chest pain, head trauma, and/or numbness or tingling in your arms or legs. If you have to go to the emergency room, make sure to use a face mask and hand sanitizer to protect yourself as much as possible.

Not everyone needs to go to the emergency room for medical treatment.

Everyone’s body responds differently to trauma. Not everyone needs treatment from a hospital emergency room right away. At McKinney Vos, we have a wide array of medical providers who see our clients and create tailored treatment plans to fit their needs. Medical providers across the world are taking steps to prevent the further spread of Covid-19. Most of the providers in our network don’t treat patients for symptoms related to the coronavirus. Simply put, people seeking treatment for the virus do not frequent these offices. Obviously, no one can guarantee that you won’t be exposed, but it may be less likely if you choose a medical provider such as a chiropractor, physical therapist or your family doctor.

Additionally, you may consider going to a facility with less traffic. Urgent care facilities are usually less busy than a traditional emergency room. We suggest calling ahead to see what their lobby looks like. Given the current climate, everyone wants to get through this safely as possible. Providers are coming up with creative solutions every day to treat their patients and keep them as safe as possible.

Document your symptoms and physical limitations.

In addition to getting medical treatment, there are things you can do to help your case from the safety of your own home. We encourage all of our clients to stay proactive throughout their case by keeping a journal of your symptoms and the activities or events you cannot participate in due to the injuries sustained in the crash.

Insurance companies often argue that if you don’t go to a doctor’s office after a couple of weeks, then you must not be injured from the crash. A journal can help us prove that, although you may have limited visits to the providers due to Covid-19 fears, your injuries and pain are real. We suggested notating the date and time, the symptoms you’re experiencing, and the effects of your pain – i.e. trouble bending over, cannot walk upstairs, difficulty sleeping etc.

If you can get an appointment with a primary care physician, chiropractor or physical therapist, it’s possible that after a first visit, they’ll give you suggestions for continuing your treatment at home for now and provide tele-med services to check on your progress after a few weeks.

If you have additional fears because you need treatment amidst Covid-19, let us know. The attorneys at McKinney Vos understand your concerns and are here to help you find a solution!