While in the ICU after a car accident, a patient can expect to be examined by neurosurgeons for head trauma, specialized trauma surgeons to check for other injuries, and an internal medicine doctor.
A St. Louis driver rushed to the emergency room after a car accident is going to be immediately assessed to determine the extent of the injury. It is imperative that the source of injury be found and treatment started immediately to avoid further complications.
Examination in the Emergency Room
The emergency room staff treating a car accident victim needs to know as many details about the car accident as possible, such as the speed of the vehicles involved, if the victim was wearing a seat belt, or if they were thrown from the car. It is also important to determine if the victim had lost consciousness at any point, indicating the possibility of a traumatic brain injury. An initial exam will be conducted which will usually be followed by diagnostic tests such as X-rays. All of this is done to help determine how serious the injury is.
After the examination, the physician will determine the next course of action. Some car accident victims require immediate surgery, while others with minor injuries may stay in the exam room of the emergency room. For those with the possibility of a head injury or other serious injuries, the physician may have the victim transferred to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Here, specially-trained staff will monitor the victim’s condition around the clock and report any changes to the doctor immediately.
Transferred to the Intensive Care Unit
While in the ICU after a car accident, a patient can expect to be examined by neurosurgeons for head trauma, specialized trauma surgeons to check for other injuries, and an internal medicine doctor. The family will be kept informed of the patient’s condition by the ICU staff and could be called upon to give consent for some procedures if the patient is unable to.
The gravity of the injury and the way in which the body heals from it will determine how long a patient will spend inside of the ICU. As you can imagine, this level of care is very expensive. If you find yourself in this circumstance, your concern should be on your recovery after the car accident, while a St. Louis car accident attorney can assist you in determining if the other driver is liable for paying for your medical care.
Who Pays for Such Extensive Medical Care?
Depending on the circumstances of the car accident, you might be able to file a car accident claim against the driver at fault. If it can be found that the other driver was even partially at fault for the accident, their insurance may be used to help offset the balance of your medical care. They may even be responsible for paying for your missed time from work and damage to your car.
While the trained staff in the ICU is qualified to see to your injuries and recovery, a St. Louis car accident attorney will be able to assist you in recovering your monetary damages from a car accident. Focus your energy on getting well and leaving the ICU while your attorney gives attention to the details of the accident and helping you receive your compensation.