Our Medical Guide
It’s essential to know the medical care guide after a car accident. You’ve likely heard the saying since middle school: “Don’t drink and drive”. That’s because driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs greatly influences your ability to drive safely. Driving under the influence doesn’t just affect the people who are driving drunk or high. The people it affects most are the innocent victims who have their lives turned upside down in an instant.
Recovery can be overwhelming and confusing, and some people may need help familiarizing themselves with the different places medical care can be found, and the different people who will treat them. That’s why we’ve created this medical guide- to take the guesswork out of where you want to be and who you want to treat you.
If you’ve been involved in an auto accident where the at-fault driver was reckless and driving under the influence of alcohol, you’re probably feeling a mix of emotions including anger, frustration, and despair. Many of the DUI cases we see here at Thompson Law have long-lasting implications on the lives of all drivers involved, which can mean both physical and mental recovery take much longer than for other vehicle accidents.
When someone chooses to drink and drive, he or she is taking other people’s lives into their hands. They make a reckless choice that can harm even the safest of sober drivers, making the innocent driver’s recovery an often long and slow path back to normal life.
The injury attorneys at Phoenix Accident and Injury Law Firm in Phoenix have significant experience in helping clients who have been victims of DUI accidents. We sincerely hope our car accident medical care guide will help you. If you need help filing a claim for one of these awful, life changing accidents, we are here to help you get the compensation you deserve. Our offices are conveniently located in Chandler, Peoria, and North Phoenix, and we can meet in-person or over the phone or video call. You can contact us for a free consultation, or read on to find out more.
By the way, we will also help with other problems that have cost you sleep, like getting a rental car very soon and finding a nearby doctor or psychiatrist who can help get your life back on track. Even the best legal team isn’t good enough if your quality of life isn’t sustainable while justice and compensation are on the way. The whole point of legal action is to regain quality of life, so we help you long-term as attorneys and short-term as your go-to people. Our familiarity with the local Phoenix courts makes us confident that we can help you get the best settlement possible.
If you are unsure whether or not you can afford an attorney, don’t worry. We only get paid when you settle. Check out our Attorney Fees Calculator to find out more.
Medical Guide: Medical Settings
Pre-Hospital
At the scene of the incident, you will be dealing with first responders. Their job is to stabilize patients, assess the situation, and move them to the appropriate facility. These first few minutes and hours following the accident are critical for those who injured. When traumatic injuries occur, patients are at risk of life-threatening complications, including shock as well as respiratory or heart failure.
Acute Care
Medical treatment that occurs immediately and is short term, for instance in an emergency room or hospital trauma center, is acute care.
Once the initial emergency is addressed and the patient is classified as critical or stable, they may be moved to a different section of the hospital. They may move to a specific floor that specializes in managing their pressing needs, including respiratory and heart issues or intensive care (ICU). In the emergency department, and following admission to the hospital, multiple services may be called for. These can include x-rays, medical scans, surgeries, and burn care.
Trauma Care
Major, life-threatening issues are addressed by emergency-room specialists or a trauma team. Traumatic injuries often require immediate, and often complex, surgeries. In the US, trauma centers are classified in four categories, from level I through level IV. Level I is a comprehensive center that deals with serious car accidents and gunshot wounds, whereas level II centers provide limited care.
Sub-Acute Care
Following initial acute care, some patients require continued medical service before being discharged to return home. Skilled intervention, such as nursing care, various therapies, and educational programs may fall under the category of sub-acute care. It can be provided in special units of hospitals and outpatient facilities, long-term care facilities, skilled nursing facilities, or rehabilitation facilities.
Rehabilitation
Following a car accident, rehabilitation may be necessary for a short term or for a longer duration of time. Rehabilitative therapies address the physical, cognitive, and emotional issues that occur during and following a crash. Rehabilitation is the process of helping a patient to achieve the highest level of functioning, independence, and quality of life after an injury has occurred. It may help the injured person work to resume more normality as they move forward.
After a car accident has occurred, injured victims often are admitted to an acute care facility and then transferred to a sub-acute care facility. They may receive rehabilitation services at the sub-acute care facility and/or following discharge when they are back at home. The best outcomes occur when acute care and rehabilitation begin as soon as possible.
Skilled Nursing Care
In some cases, victims of accidents require ongoing care in a facility setting where they can be attended to by a team of medical professionals. This type of care can be provided in a skilled nursing care facility, specialized hospital, or sub-acute facility. This may be covered by health insurance, but to qualify for the care and coverage, patients must require ongoing skilled care. It may be required for a short term or for longer-term care.
Custodial Care
When victims suffer a permanent injury that is debilitating enough to require ongoing care for basic living needs, they may need custodial care. This can occur in a nursing home or treatment center. This differs from skilled nursing care in that custodial care does not need to be administered by medical teams. Instead, patients are cared for by licensed caregivers. Health insurance rarely covers this kind of care.
Medical Guide: Medical Team
When individuals suffer traumatic injuries, they need a variety of specialists to care for them throughout their recovery. This medical team consists of surgeons, physicians, nurses, anesthesiologists, cardiologists, and neurologists, as well as many others as needs arise. The goal of the team is to work together to ensure the patient reaches optimal health and a strong quality of life.
Physicians and Nurses
The attending physicians, surgeons, and nurses needed to support patients with traumatic injuries specialize in such scenarios. They are members of a trauma team or an emergency response team. They are experienced in making life-and-death decisions and help support victims in those first crucial hours and days following an incident.
Anesthesiologists
A physician who has chosen to specialize in the dosage and administration of anesthesia is designated as an anesthesiologist. They support a trauma team during surgery to ensure the patient doesn’t experience any pain.
Orthopedic Surgeons
Orthopedics refer to the bones of the body. When bones are broken in an accident, orthopedic surgeons are called in to consult or perform the surgeries. There are some specialized orthopedic surgeons who have expertise in certain areas of the body.
Cardiologists
This surgeon specializes in matters related to the heart and cardiovascular system.
Neurologists
Another specialty physician, neurologists are expert in brain injuries. This includes not only the brain but the entire nervous system, extending to the spinal cord, nerves, and muscles. They will become part of your medical team when there are any neurological conditions or concerns.
Get Help Now
At Phoenix Accident and Injury Law Firm near you, we have more than 15 years of experience helping clients obtain compensation for their personal injuries from DUI in the Phoenix area, including those who need our medical care guide after a car accident. When you’re ready to talk, please contact our office to arrange a free initial consultation by phone or at our Chandler office, conveniently located near you.
If you have been in a DUI accident, contact Phoenix Accident and Injury Law Firm in nearby Chandler, AZ to speak with an experienced personal injury attorney. We provide personal injury legal services to clients in your area including Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, Scottsdale, Tempe, and Peoria.
If you have any questions about the car accident medical care guide, please give us a call at 480-634-7480.
