Santa Clarita Accident Victims: Understanding Your Medical Care

After an accident, you can suddenly find yourself dealing with a medical system that seems to have its own language. One doctor mentions an MRI. Another recommends physical therapy. You may be referred to an orthopedist, neurologist, pain-management specialist, or chiropractor, and you may not understand why you need to see each one or how the different pieces of treatment fit together.

It is also common for an injury to evolve over time. You may initially be treated in an emergency room and told that there is no fracture, only to continue experiencing pain several days later. Or you may begin physical therapy for a neck or back injury and eventually need additional imaging or a specialist evaluation because your symptoms are not improving as expected.

This guide explains the major types of medical care accident victims commonly encounter, from emergency treatment and diagnostic imaging to specialist care, chiropractic treatment, physical therapy, injections, pain management, surgery, and psychological support. The goal is not to tell you which treatment you personally need—that decision belongs to you and your medical providers—but to help you understand what these different treatments are designed to do and why they might be recommended.

Key Takeaways

• Your health comes first. Medical treatment should be based on your actual symptoms and the recommendations of your healthcare providers—not on what you think will make an injury claim stronger.

• Some injuries are obvious immediately. Others may not become apparent until hours or days after an accident.

• You do not necessarily need to go to an emergency room after every accident, but you should not ignore symptoms simply because they did not appear at the scene.

• Different types of medical providers serve different purposes. Emergency physicians, primary-care doctors, orthopedic specialists, neurologists, physical therapists, chiropractors, pain-management physicians, and other providers may become involved depending on the injury.

• Diagnostic tests such as X-rays, CT scans, and MRIs answer different medical questions. One type of imaging is not automatically "better" than another.

• Keep copies of your medical records, bills, diagnostic reports, prescriptions, treatment recommendations, and other important medical information.

• Tell your medical providers about the accident, your symptoms, when those symptoms began, and how they affect your daily life. Be accurate and complete.

• If you do not have health insurance, do not assume that you should simply go without necessary medical care. Ask providers about available payment arrangements and understand the financial terms before beginning non-emergency treatment.

• Medical liens and other payment arrangements may sometimes be available, but they are financial arrangements and should not determine what treatment you medically need.

• There is no universal amount of time that someone should receive treatment after an accident. The appropriate course depends on the injury, symptoms, progress, and medical recommendations.

• Your medical records can become important evidence in a personal injury claim, but medical care should never be pursued simply to create a stronger claim.

Your Health Comes First

After an accident, it is natural to think about insurance, property damage, lost work, and what the accident may mean financially. But the first priority should be your health.

Some injuries are immediately obvious. A broken bone, deep laceration, or serious head injury may require immediate emergency treatment. Other injuries can be less obvious. Pain, stiffness, headaches, dizziness, numbness, anxiety, sleep problems, or other symptoms may develop or become more noticeable after the initial shock of an accident wears off.

The goal of this page is not to tell you which treatment you personally need. That decision belongs to you and your medical providers. Instead, this page is intended to help you understand the kinds of medical care accident victims commonly encounter, what different providers and treatments are generally designed to do, and why they may be recommended.

If you are experiencing an emergency or believe you may have a serious injury, seek appropriate emergency medical attention rather than relying on information from a website.

When Should You Seek Medical Care?

There is no single rule that applies to every accident.

If you have an obvious or potentially serious injury, emergency medical care may be appropriate. For less obvious injuries, you may instead begin with an urgent-care facility or your primary-care physician.

The important point is not to ignore symptoms simply because they did not appear at the accident scene.

Adrenaline, shock, and the circumstances immediately surrounding an accident can make it difficult to recognize how you feel physically. Some symptoms may become more noticeable later. That does not automatically mean that a later-appearing symptom was unrelated to the accident.

If you develop symptoms after an accident, tell your healthcare provider what happened, when the accident occurred, when you first noticed the symptoms, and how those symptoms have changed over time.

Your medical provider can then evaluate the situation and determine what examination, testing, or treatment is appropriate.

What If I Did Not See a Doctor Right Away?

People sometimes hesitate to seek medical care immediately because they initially believe they are fine. Others may not have symptoms until later.

If that happens, it does not automatically mean that you cannot have a legitimate accident-related injury. The important thing is to pay attention to your symptoms and seek appropriate medical evaluation when you need it.

When you see the doctor, be accurate about the timing. Explain when the accident occurred, whether you had symptoms immediately, when you first noticed them, and how they have progressed.

Do not try to create a connection that you do not believe exists. At the same time, do not minimize symptoms simply because you did not seek treatment on the day of the accident.

Your healthcare provider is in the best position to evaluate the medical significance of your symptoms.

Emergency Room Treatment

The emergency room is designed to evaluate and treat potentially serious or urgent medical conditions.

After an accident, emergency-department care may involve a physical examination, neurological evaluation, imaging, wound treatment, medication, observation, or other testing depending on the circumstances.

Emergency departments are particularly important when someone has symptoms that may indicate a serious condition, such as significant bleeding, loss of consciousness, severe difficulty breathing, serious neurological symptoms, or other potentially dangerous problems.

An emergency-room visit can also provide an initial medical record documenting what you reported and what the medical staff observed at that time.

That record can be useful later because it creates a contemporaneous account of your condition. But the purpose of going to an emergency room should always be medical—not simply creating documentation for a claim.

Hospitalization

Some accident injuries require a hospital stay.

Hospitalization may be necessary when an injury requires surgery, close monitoring, repeated testing, intravenous medication, specialized treatment, or observation that cannot safely be provided on an outpatient basis.

Serious injuries may involve multiple medical specialties. For example, someone involved in a significant collision might initially be treated in the emergency department and then evaluated by an orthopedic surgeon, neurologist, trauma specialist, or another specialist depending on the injuries.

If you are hospitalized, keep your discharge instructions and follow-up recommendations. These documents can help you understand what your medical team expects you to do after leaving the hospital.

Urgent Care

Urgent-care facilities can be appropriate for medical problems that need timely attention but do not appear to require emergency-department treatment.

After an accident, urgent care may be an option for symptoms such as pain, stiffness, minor injuries, or other concerns when your primary-care provider is not immediately available.

Urgent care is not a substitute for emergency treatment when a serious injury may be involved.

If you are unsure whether your symptoms could represent an emergency, seek appropriate medical advice rather than relying on an online description.

Primary Care

Your primary-care doctor may become an important part of your treatment after an accident, particularly when symptoms persist beyond the initial evaluation.

A primary-care physician can evaluate your overall condition, coordinate treatment, order diagnostic testing, prescribe medication when appropriate, and refer you to specialists.

Your primary-care doctor may also have knowledge of your medical history before the accident. That can sometimes help distinguish a new complaint from a pre-existing condition or help explain how an accident changed an existing problem.

Be honest with your doctor about your prior medical history. You do not help yourself by hiding previous injuries or medical conditions. What matters is allowing your medical provider to understand your condition accurately.

Why Medical Treatment Matters After an Accident

Medical treatment is primarily about your health and recovery. At the same time, medical records can become important evidence if you later pursue a personal injury claim.

California Courts identifies medical bills, doctor reports, ongoing treatment, and future problems resulting from an injury as potentially relevant losses in a personal injury case. Medical records can also help document what you reported, what a provider observed, what diagnoses were made, and what treatment was recommended.

That does not mean you should seek unnecessary treatment to build a legal claim. In fact, doing so can create its own problems.

The better approach is simple: obtain appropriate medical care, follow reasonable medical recommendations, communicate honestly with your providers, and keep good records of your treatment.

Orthopedic Specialists

Orthopedic physicians specialize in the musculoskeletal system, including bones, joints, muscles, ligaments, tendons, and related structures.

After an accident, an orthopedic specialist may evaluate conditions involving the neck, back, shoulder, knee, hip, wrist, or other parts of the musculoskeletal system.

Depending on the injury, an orthopedic physician may recommend conservative treatment such as physical therapy or medication, additional diagnostic testing, injections, or surgery.

Not every orthopedic injury requires surgery. In many cases, treatment focuses first on less invasive options and monitoring how the patient responds.

Neurologists and Other Specialists

Some accident injuries involve the nervous system rather than—or in addition to—the musculoskeletal system.

A neurologist may evaluate symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, numbness, weakness, balance problems, memory difficulties, or other neurological complaints.

Other specialists may become involved depending on the nature of the injury. A concussion or traumatic brain injury, for example, may require a different evaluation than a simple muscle strain.

The appropriate specialist depends on the symptoms and the medical findings.

Diagnostic Imaging: X-Rays, CT Scans, and MRIs

Diagnostic imaging is commonly used after accidents, but different types of imaging serve different purposes.

X-Rays

X-rays are particularly useful for examining bones. They may help identify fractures, dislocations, or other structural abnormalities.

An X-ray generally does not provide the same level of information about soft tissues such as muscles, ligaments, tendons, or many spinal-disc problems.

CT Scans

A CT scan uses X-rays and computer processing to create detailed cross-sectional images.

CT scans can provide more detailed information than ordinary X-rays and are commonly used in emergency settings when doctors need to evaluate certain injuries quickly.

MRI

MRI uses magnetic fields and radio waves rather than traditional X-rays.

MRIs are particularly useful for evaluating many soft-tissue structures, including spinal discs, ligaments, tendons, muscles, and certain brain abnormalities.

The important question is not simply whether an MRI shows an abnormality. It is whether the imaging findings make sense in the context of your symptoms, medical history, and physical examination.

A finding on an imaging study does not automatically establish that the finding was caused by a particular accident.

Your Symptoms and the Medical Findings Need to Be Considered Together

One of the reasons medical diagnosis can be complicated is that imaging results are only one part of the picture.

A person may have significant symptoms even when imaging does not reveal a major abnormality. Conversely, an imaging study may show an abnormality that was present before the accident and is not causing the person's current symptoms.

Doctors therefore consider multiple pieces of information, including:

What you report experiencing

When the symptoms began

The location and nature of the pain or other symptoms

Your physical examination

Your prior medical history

Diagnostic imaging

Other testing

How your condition changes over time

Your response to treatment

This is one reason it is important to describe your symptoms accurately rather than trying to tell a doctor what you think the diagnosis should be.

Chiropractic Care

Chiropractic treatment may be used by some patients for certain musculoskeletal complaints, including back or neck pain.

Chiropractors may use manual adjustments, therapeutic exercises, stretching, and other techniques depending on the patient's condition and the provider's approach.

Chiropractic care is not appropriate for every injury or every patient. Whether it makes sense depends on the particular condition and the patient's medical circumstances.

If you receive chiropractic treatment, the same general principle applies as with any other medical care: treatment should be based on your actual condition and the recommendations of an appropriate healthcare provider, not simply on what someone believes will make a personal injury claim stronger.

Physical Therapy

Physical therapy is commonly used to help patients improve movement, strength, flexibility, balance, and function after an injury.

A physical therapist may develop an individualized treatment program that includes exercises, stretching, strengthening, mobility work, manual techniques, and other therapeutic approaches.

Physical therapy is different from simply "working out." The exercises and progression are generally designed around the patient's particular condition and functional goals.

If a therapist gives you exercises to perform at home, follow the instructions you have been given and communicate if a particular exercise increases your symptoms or creates a new problem.

Pain Management

Pain-management physicians may become involved when pain continues despite other forms of treatment or when a patient's condition requires specialized management.

Depending on the circumstances, treatment may include medication, injections, nerve blocks, physical rehabilitation, or other approaches.

Pain management does not necessarily mean that someone will receive strong pain medication. Modern pain management can involve many different strategies, and the appropriate treatment depends on the individual's condition.

As with any treatment, decisions should be made with the treating medical provider.

Injections and Nerve Blocks

Some injuries may be treated with injections or nerve blocks.

The purpose of an injection depends on the specific procedure. Some injections are intended to reduce inflammation or pain. Others may have a diagnostic purpose, helping a physician determine where symptoms may be originating.

Nerve blocks can temporarily interrupt pain signals from particular nerves or areas of the body.

These procedures are not appropriate for everyone, and they are not necessarily permanent solutions. Your doctor should explain the purpose, potential benefits, risks, and alternatives of a recommended procedure.

Medication

Medication may be used to address pain, inflammation, muscle spasms, sleep problems, anxiety, or other symptoms associated with an injury.

Different medications have different purposes and risks. Some are intended for short-term use, while others may be prescribed for longer periods.

Take medications according to your healthcare provider's instructions. If you experience side effects, have concerns about a medication, or believe it is not helping, discuss those issues with your provider rather than changing the treatment plan on your own.

Surgery

Some accident injuries require surgery, while many do not.

Surgery may be considered when an injury is severe, when conservative treatment has not produced sufficient improvement, or when a structural problem requires surgical correction.

The fact that surgery has been recommended does not automatically mean that surgery is necessary in every case. Conversely, someone should not avoid a medically appropriate procedure simply because they are concerned about how it may affect an insurance claim.

If surgery is recommended, ask your physician to explain:

What the procedure is intended to accomplish

Why it is being recommended

What alternatives exist

What the risks are

What recovery may involve

What could happen if you do not have the procedure

A second medical opinion may also be appropriate in some circumstances.

Psychological and Emotional Effects After an Accident

Not every injury is visible.

After an accident, some people experience anxiety, fear, nightmares, difficulty sleeping, irritability, difficulty concentrating, fear of driving, or other emotional or psychological symptoms.

These symptoms can be real and important even when there is no obvious physical injury.

If you are experiencing emotional or psychological symptoms after an accident, tell your healthcare provider. You do not need to have a formal diagnosis before telling your doctor what you are experiencing.

A healthcare professional can determine whether further evaluation or treatment is appropriate.

Do not assume that psychological symptoms are "just stress" or that they do not matter because an accident did not produce a visible injury.

What If I Do Not Have Health Insurance?

Lack of health insurance can make medical treatment after an accident feel especially overwhelming.

If you need medical care, do not simply ignore a potentially serious injury because you are uncertain about how the bill will be paid. Emergency medical needs should be addressed as medical needs first.

For non-emergency treatment, ask the provider about the expected cost and what payment arrangements may be available before beginning treatment when possible.

Depending on the circumstances, medical bills may be paid through health insurance, another applicable insurance coverage, a medical lien arrangement, direct payment by the patient, or another arrangement.

The availability of any particular payment option depends on the provider, the patient's circumstances, applicable insurance coverage, and other factors. Never assume that a provider will treat you on a particular financial arrangement without first confirming the terms.

How Are Medical Bills Paid After an Accident?

The fact that you received medical treatment does not necessarily answer the separate question of who ultimately pays the medical bills.

For example, a health-insurance plan may initially process medical expenses according to the terms of the policy. You may receive bills or an Explanation of Benefits showing what the insurer paid and what portion, if any, remains your responsibility. California's Department of Insurance advises consumers to keep track of medical bills and review their Explanation of Benefits when applicable.

In some personal injury cases, a provider may agree to a medical lien or another arrangement under which payment is addressed later.

These arrangements can be complicated. The fact that a provider is willing to defer payment does not mean the medical care is automatically free, and it does not mean the bill disappears if the injury claim is unsuccessful.

Understand the financial arrangement before agreeing to it.

For a more detailed discussion, see Medical Liens and Bills in the Personal Injury Resources section.

Medical Liens

A medical lien is a financial arrangement under which a healthcare provider or another entity may agree to wait for payment until a personal injury claim is resolved.

Liens can sometimes make medical treatment available to people who have limited health-insurance coverage or who are dealing with an accident-related claim that has not yet been resolved.

But a lien is a financial and contractual issue. It is not a medical determination about what treatment you need.

Before agreeing to a lien arrangement, understand:

What services are covered

How the charges will be calculated

When payment becomes due

Whether the lien must be paid from a settlement

What happens if there is no settlement

Whether you remain personally responsible for the balance

The financial terms matter.

Your Treatment Records Are Important

Your medical records can become important evidence in a personal injury claim.

They may document:

When you first sought treatment

What symptoms you reported

What your healthcare provider observed

Diagnoses

Imaging and other test results

Treatment recommendations

Medications

Referrals

Physical therapy

Changes in your condition

Your response to treatment

Future treatment recommendations

California Courts identifies medical bills and doctor reports as examples of evidence that may support a personal injury claim.

Keep copies of important medical information whenever possible. This can include:

Medical bills

Medical records

Diagnostic reports

Imaging reports

Prescriptions

Referrals

Discharge instructions

Written treatment recommendations

Therapy schedules

Work restrictions

Significant changes to your treatment plan

Explanation of Benefits statements

You do not need to create a complicated medical-record system. A simple organized file can make it much easier to understand your treatment history later.

Tell Your Medical Providers the Whole Story

Your doctors and other healthcare providers need accurate information to treat you properly.

Tell them about the accident and explain your symptoms as accurately as you can. If a symptom began immediately, say so. If it developed several days later, say that instead.

Explain how the symptoms affect your daily life.

For example, if you are having difficulty sleeping, driving, working, lifting, exercising, caring for your children, or performing ordinary household activities, those details may be medically relevant.

Do not exaggerate symptoms.

But do not minimize them either.

Sometimes people become uncomfortable describing pain or other symptoms because they worry about sounding dramatic. Your doctor cannot properly evaluate what you do not tell them.

Keep Track of How You Are Doing

Consider keeping a simple symptom and treatment journal.

You might record:

What symptoms you experienced

How severe they were

What activities made them better or worse

Whether symptoms interfered with sleep

Whether you missed work

Whether you had difficulty driving

Whether you needed help with ordinary activities

What treatment you received

How you responded to treatment

You do not need to write a novel every night.

A few accurate notes can help you remember how your condition changed over time.

Your medical provider's records are the formal medical documentation. Your own notes are simply a way of preserving your recollection and helping you communicate more accurately with your providers.

Gaps in Treatment

Sometimes people stop treatment because they begin feeling better. Sometimes they stop because of cost, transportation, work, family responsibilities, or other practical problems.

A gap in treatment does not automatically mean that someone was not injured.

If you need to stop or interrupt treatment, communicate with your healthcare provider when appropriate and understand the medical consequences.

If cost is the problem, ask whether the provider has payment options or whether there are other appropriate ways to continue necessary care.

Do not continue unnecessary treatment simply because you are worried that stopping will hurt an insurance claim.

At the same time, do not abandon medically recommended care solely because you are concerned about what the insurance company might think.

Your treatment decisions should be based on your health and medical advice.

How Long Should I Continue Medical Treatment?

There is no universal treatment schedule for an accident injury.

One person may recover in a few weeks. Another may need months of treatment. Someone with a serious injury may require treatment for much longer.

The appropriate duration depends on the injury, the patient's symptoms, progress, medical findings, and the recommendations of the treating providers.

You should not continue treatment that your medical providers no longer consider medically appropriate simply because you have a personal injury claim.

At the same time, you should not stop recommended care solely because you are worried about medical bills or how the treatment will look to an insurance company.

The purpose of medical treatment is to address your health.

Second Opinions

If you are uncomfortable with a diagnosis or treatment recommendation, you may want to ask your doctor whether a second opinion would be appropriate.

A second opinion can sometimes provide reassurance. In other situations, another physician may recommend a different treatment approach.

Useful questions can include:

What exactly is the diagnosis?

What evidence supports the diagnosis?

What are my treatment options?

What are the risks and benefits of each option?

What happens if I do nothing?

How long might recovery take?

Is surgery necessary?

Are there reasonable alternatives?

Would another specialist be appropriate?

You are allowed to ask questions about your medical care.

What If the Insurance Company Disagrees With My Treatment?

An insurance company may question whether particular treatment is related to an accident, whether a particular procedure is necessary, or whether the amount of treatment is reasonable.

That does not mean you should change your medical care simply because an adjuster disagrees with it.

Your healthcare decisions should be made with your medical providers based on your medical condition.

At the same time, understand that an insurance company may evaluate the medical evidence differently from you or your doctor. This is one reason detailed and consistent medical records can become important when an injury claim is disputed.

What Matters Most

There is a lot of information to absorb after an accident.

You do not need to understand every medical term or know in advance which specialist you will eventually see.

Start with the basics:

Pay attention to your symptoms.

Get appropriate medical care.

Tell your healthcare providers what happened and what you are experiencing.

Follow reasonable medical recommendations.

Keep your medical records and bills organized.

Ask questions when you do not understand something.

Do not seek unnecessary treatment simply to strengthen a legal claim.

Do not ignore medically appropriate treatment simply because you are worried about the cost or the insurance company.

Your health should remain the central consideration.

Frequently Asked Questions

How soon should I see a doctor after an accident?

There is no single timeline that applies to every accident. If you have a serious or potentially life-threatening injury, seek emergency medical care. If your symptoms are less urgent, you may be able to see your primary-care doctor, an urgent-care provider, or another appropriate medical professional.

The important thing is not to ignore symptoms simply because they were not obvious at the scene.

What if I did not see a doctor right away after the accident?

Not seeking medical treatment immediately does not automatically mean that an injury was unrelated to the accident. Some symptoms may develop or become noticeable later.

If symptoms appear or persist, seek appropriate medical evaluation and tell your provider when the accident occurred, when you first noticed the symptoms, and how they have changed.

What if I do not have health insurance?

Do not ignore a potentially serious injury simply because you are worried about payment. For non-emergency treatment, ask providers about the expected cost and whether payment arrangements are available. Depending on the circumstances, health insurance, another applicable insurance coverage, a medical lien, or another payment arrangement may be involved.

Make sure you understand the financial terms before beginning non-emergency treatment.

Do I have to use a particular doctor after an accident?

Not necessarily. The answer can depend on your insurance coverage, the circumstances of the accident, and whether you are already receiving treatment through a particular healthcare system.

If an insurance company recommends a particular provider, remember that the insurer's recommendation is not necessarily the same thing as medical advice. You should understand who the provider is, what role the provider has, and what your own healthcare options are.

What if my doctor says I am fine but I still have pain?

Tell your doctor exactly what you are experiencing. Sometimes additional evaluation, follow-up, or another type of testing may be appropriate. If you remain concerned, you can ask whether another evaluation or a second opinion would make sense.

Do not assume that pain is imaginary simply because an initial test did not identify a major injury.

What if an MRI or X-ray shows something that was not mentioned before the accident?

An imaging finding does not automatically establish when the condition developed or what caused it. Some abnormalities may have existed before an accident without causing symptoms.

Your healthcare provider will consider the imaging together with your symptoms, physical examination, medical history, and other information.

Should I keep copies of my medical records and bills?

Yes. Keep copies of your medical records, bills, diagnostic reports, imaging reports, prescriptions, referrals, treatment recommendations, and other important information related to your care.

California Courts identifies medical bills and doctor reports as examples of evidence that can be relevant in a personal injury case.

What if my treatment is interrupted?

If treatment is interrupted because you are feeling better, because of cost, or for another reason, communicate with your healthcare provider when appropriate. A gap in treatment does not automatically mean that you were not injured, but it can make it more difficult to understand the course of an injury if there is no explanation for what happened.

Do not continue treatment you no longer medically need simply because you are concerned about an insurance claim.

How long should I continue treatment after an accident?

There is no universal treatment period. Some injuries resolve quickly, while others require months or longer.

Your treatment should generally be guided by your symptoms, medical findings, progress, and recommendations from your healthcare providers—not by an insurance company's preferred timeline or by what you think will maximize a personal injury claim.

What if the insurance company says my treatment is unnecessary?

An insurance company may disagree with your treatment or question whether particular treatment is related to the accident. That does not make the insurer your medical provider.

Discuss your treatment with your healthcare providers and ask them to explain why a particular treatment is recommended. Keep records of those recommendations and the medical reasons for your care.

Can emotional or psychological symptoms be part of an accident injury?

Yes. People can experience anxiety, nightmares, sleep problems, fear of driving, difficulty concentrating, irritability, or other psychological symptoms after an accident.

If you are experiencing these symptoms, tell your healthcare provider. Psychological symptoms can be important even when there is no visible physical injury.

Should I continue treatment just because I have a personal injury claim?

No. Medical treatment should be based on your actual health needs and the recommendations of your healthcare providers.

Do not seek unnecessary treatment simply to strengthen a claim. At the same time, do not stop medically appropriate treatment solely because you are worried about medical bills or an insurance company's reaction.

Getting Medical Care in the Santa Clarita Valley

If you were injured in a car accident, motorcycle accident, truck accident, pedestrian accident, slip and fall, dog attack, or another type of accident in Santa Clarita or elsewhere in the Santa Clarita Valley, getting appropriate medical care may be one of the most important things you do after the accident.

The same basic principles apply whether the accident occurred in Santa Clarita, Valencia, Saugus, Newhall, Canyon Country, Castaic, Stevenson Ranch, or another part of the Santa Clarita Valley.

Get appropriate medical attention. Tell your providers what happened. Describe your symptoms accurately. Follow reasonable medical recommendations. Keep your records organized. And remember that the purpose of medical treatment is to take care of your health.

If an injury claim later develops, your medical records and treatment history may also become important evidence concerning the nature, extent, and course of your injuries.

But the two goals should remain in the proper order:

Take care of your health first. Understand the legal and insurance consequences second.