What Do Doctors Check for After An Accident?

After a car accident in Sun City Center, you may decide to visit a doctor due to an injury or troubling symptoms. Do you know what to expect?

Our accident care team at Impact Medical Sun City Center outlines what you should know about a checkup after an accident including when to see a doctor, what tests they might run, and what the next steps might be. Let’s get started!

The Diagnostic Process

Most visits to a doctor following an accident begin with a discussion of your current symptoms and medical history. This includes a discussion of what happened during the accident as well.

Understanding your concerns and medical condition will help your doctor determine what symptoms or injuries are or aren’t related to the accident. 

The doctor will typically conduct a physical examination during this time, and if they suspect any injuries, you might be asked to perform a few movements to gauge how your body reacts.

To better identify your injuries, your doctor may do several exams and scans. Blood tests, X-rays, CT scans, MRIs, and physical full-body exams are a few of the tests that may be performed.

Common Injuries After an Accident

The following list includes some of the most typical things a doctor will check for during your visit.

External Injuries

Most external injuries are apparent to the eye after an accident and can include:

• Cuts
• Bruises
• Burns
• Road rash

Though these injuries are pretty straightforward to treat, it is important to be upfront with your doctor about the severity of your condition and any pain that you are feeling.

Broken Bones

Broken bones are quite common after an accident, especially if you used an arm or leg to brace against an impact. Small fractures often go unnoticed, which is why your doctor might order X-rays or other imaging to rule out any issues.

Whiplash & Soft Tissue Injuries

Soft tissues are those that impact your body’s tendons, ligaments, and muscles, and can include tears, bruises, sprains, or strains.

These are quite common in car accidents as the body is forced into unnatural positions quite quickly due to the force of the collision.

One of the most common soft tissue injuries is whiplash which will likely be one of the first things that a doctor looks for if you are suffering from neck pain or headaches after the accident.

Brain Injuries

Any impact to the head may be classified as a TBI. In an accident, this might mean that you hit your head against the interior of the car, but it is also possible that the force of the accident jostled the brain so much that it hit the inside of your skull.

Concussions are common in car crashes and are treated quite easily, but some brain injuries are very serious and may need extensive care and treatment.

Because of this, your auto accident care team may perform cognitive tests to determine if your brain function was impacted by the accident.

Back Injuries

The human spine is susceptible to many injuries during an accident due to its complexity. Herniated discs are a common injury, as the soft gel-like discs that are between the vertebrae of the spine are pushed out of place or ruptured.

Back injuries are not as obvious immediately following an accident, but an experienced doctor or chiropractor will complete a thorough examination of your spine to determine its health and any injuries.

Seek Medical Attention ASAP After a Crash

Although many people move on from a car accident unscathed, it is important to seek medical attention promptly after an accident even if you don’t think you are hurt.

We recommend this because car accident injuries often don’t manifest for a couple of days or sometimes a couple of weeks after an accident.

Remember: Ignoring injuries or postponing treatment might result in symptoms that develop and may be more difficult and expensive to treat. Seek medical treatment ASAP.

Sun City Center After Accident Care

Don’t delay if you have been in an accident in Sun City Center or the surrounding area. Our team of doctors, chiropractors, and physical therapists is here to diagnose, treat, and ultimately help you heal from your accident.

Reach out to our clinic in Sun City Center to schedule an appointment today at (813) 938-5195!