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What Do You Need to Know About Going to the ER After a Car Accident?

August 22, 2022
Media Car Accident Lawyers at Eckell Sparks Will Hold the At-Fault Driver Accountable for Your Injury.

The United States averages about 3 million injuries caused by car accidents every year. While some car accident injuries are minor, many require immediate medical attention, which likely means a trip to the emergency room.

An ambulance ride can be very expensive, and so can your time in the emergency room. Fortunately, health insurance and car insurance could cover most or all of those costs. Pennsylvania drivers must have minimum personal injury protection (PIP) coverage of $5,000 in medical benefits, $15,000 bodily injury liability per person, and $5,000 in property damage. This is required for every vehicle in the State that is registered for use on public roads and highways. PIP coverage pays up to policy limits for any medical costs arising from a car accident.

How to Handle Your Emergency Room Care?

After a car accident, you should be careful about what you say or sign when in an emergency room. The medical staff will require you to sign many forms, and one or more of those might ask about the cause of your injury.

Answering in general terms would suffice in this situation. You should not provide any details that might be used against you, such as admitting fault in any way. The same goes for any doctors or nurses who provide you with care. You should just tell them that you were in a car accident.

The hospital might run a test to see if you are inebriated by alcohol, drugs, or both. If you are conscious, you likely would have to answer a question regarding whether you had been drinking or taking any drugs. Much like any allergies, the doctors would need to know to ensure they do not administer any drugs that could cause ill effects.

If you are in the emergency room for an extended period of time, a police officer likely will arrive and try to get some information from you. Whether or not you are capable of responding would depend on your medical condition.

If the other motorist caused the accident, there is a good chance the other motorist might indicate they are not at fault. You might leave the hospital only to discover that you are blamed for causing the accident. Fortunately, you can tell your side of the story and make sure the police report reflects that.

Regardless of fault, PIP coverage and any health insurance that you have will apply to your car accident injury costs. However, your ability to sue the other driver depends on your injuries and coverage. An experienced lawyer can help you explore your legal options and determine if you are eligible to file a suit.

Media Car Accident Lawyers at Eckell Sparks Will Hold the At-Fault Driver Accountable for Your Injury

If you have been severely injured in a car accident, one of our experienced Media car accident lawyers at Eckell, Sparks, Levy, Auerbach, Monte, Sloane, Matthews & Auslander, P.C. can build a strong case on your behalf. We understand how devasting car accident injuries can be, especially ones that require emergency room care. To learn more and to schedule an initial consultation, call us at 610-565-3701 or complete our online form. We are located in Media and West Chester, Pennsylvania, and we proudly assist personal injury clients across Chester County, Montgomery County, and Delaware County.