Winter Auto Accident – Safe Driving Tips
A Winter auto accident might be minimized by thinking ahead. Prepping for weather changes in Oklahoma takes a bit of thinking.
Severe weather can be both frightening and dangerous for travelers. In Oklahoma, a winter auto accident can leave you devastate for months to come. Not only do you have to deal with a damaged vehicle, but you have to think about your health and the symptoms that might not eve show up until days or weeks after the accident.
In Oklahoma, where the weather can change almost hourly, it’s hard to know when harsh weather will become a driving hazard. After all, it’s not uncommon for the weather to change dramatically while you are at work! Driving home on a day like that can be a real challenge. According to AAA, winter storms, bad weather and sloppy road conditions are a factor in nearly half a million crashes and more than 2,000 road deaths every winter. Drivers should know the safety rules for dealing with winter auto accidents:
- Stay Calm. Take some deep breaths and make sure you are not seriously injured.
- Bundle Up. If you have to wait in your car, be warm.
- Headlights For Low Visibility. Make sure other drivers can see you.
- Keep Yourself Safe. Turn on your hazard lights and move the car if necessary.
- Stay Aware. If outside your vehicle, move away from the roadway and sliding traffic.
- Exchange Information. Don’t forget driver’s license, insurance and registration.
- Who, What, Where. Jot down info and take photos of the damage. It’s worth a 1000 words.
- Make Appropriate Calls: Police (911), Auto Club or Tow
- Check In With Loved Ones. Don’t let your family hear news second hand.
That takes care of what to do immediately at the site of the winter auto accident, but what do you do next? The next step is to call a medical provider to care for any injuries that might have occurred.
Why is it important to call The Brooks Clinic? There are many reasons, but they all revolve around your health and wellness. Most people will tell a police officer that they “feel fine” immediately following their auto accident. Then the reality sets in. Muscles start to tighten. Inflammation causes pain. Your neck, your back and maybe even your arms and knees start to ache at certain times of the day. People say the second day is the worst – and you may be hardly able to crawl out of bed. Unfortunately the pain may get worse as the days go by, unless you seek medical intervention.
Why is it important to be seen right after a winter auto accident? If you wait to receive auto accident medical care until a later date, the insurance company defense may argue that your injuries were not caused by the collision at all. If you don’t follow the prescribed treatment plan or if there are gaps in your treatment (missing appointments, skipping therapy sessions, failing to fill prescriptions), the insurance may argue that you are not as injured as you claim or that you have fault for failing to treat and alleviate your injuries.
Unanticipated Accident Care Needs
If you find that you need unanticipated medical care after you give your statement, having established medical care can help you get the care you need. We know that’s how things work. One day you feel fine, one day you feel- well, like you got ran over by a truck!
Having an exam with a medical doctor immediately following your auto accident can preserve your rights for medical care with the insurance company. But you may wonder where you should go. Many people are surprised that many primary care doctors won’t see patients if they have been injured in a car collision. The doctor’s practice may not be set up for billing car insurance companies, or they may simply feel uncomfortable treating such injuries knowing that they could be called to testify in the case at a later date. Other options like the ER or Urgent Care are options, but they will either charge your health insurance or expect payment out of pocket (again, they are generally not set up for 3rd party auto insurance billing).
That’s why The Brooks Clinic is your Winter Auto Accident specialist. We are expertly suited to take care of your health, and work with the 3rd party insurance to put the financial burden on the faulty party. Our goal is for you to get the care you need without out of pocket costs.
In the Oklahoma City Metro, we can make it easy for you. With four great locations, there’s always a Brooks Clinic nearby where you can have a walk in exam with no out of pocket costs. You’ll find our locations easy to reach:
- Midtown OKC
- Northwest Expressway
- Moore
- Midwest City
We deal with insurance every day. We know the challenges and the difficulties you may face. We can help you navigate the requirements so that your claim is paid quickly and in full. When you’ve had an auto accident, make your first call to The Brooks Clinic. One phone number helps you reach all locations, and a specialist is waiting to speak with you…
