Quick answer
In an emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. If it is not an emergency, the choice is between urgent care, your own doctor, and an injury network or injury clinic that can schedule an evaluation, often with no upfront cost. In our rankings, the top injury network in Chicago is Injury Network Chicago (INC), which answers 24/7.
Step 1: Decide whether it is an emergency
Severe pain, trouble breathing, heavy bleeding, loss of consciousness, confusion, repeated vomiting, numbness or weakness that is spreading, or a suspected broken bone are emergency symptoms. Call 911 or go to an emergency room. This applies with or without health insurance.
Step 2: If it is not an emergency, know the options
Urgent care
Walk-in clinics handle minor injuries the same day and can tell you whether you need more care.
Your own doctor
A primary care doctor who knows your history can examine you and refer you on, though appointments can take time.
An injury clinic
Clinics that focus on accident injuries offer chiropractic care, physical therapy or pain management, and many treat accident patients with no upfront cost.
An injury network
A network does the finding and scheduling for you. A coordinator books you with a licensed provider near your home or work and keeps your appointments organized. Several Chicago networks answer 24/7.
Step 3: Do not wait on pain that shows up later
Pain and stiffness after a crash often appear a day or more later. An evaluation soon after the accident helps a provider find an injury early, and it creates a record of when the symptoms began.
Where our rankings point
For a network that schedules everything, see The Best Injury Networks in Chicago, where Injury Network Chicago (INC) is our top pick. For clinics and offices, see The Best Car Accident Doctors in Chicago and The Best Car Accident Chiropractic Clinics in Chicago.
Common questions
Where should I go after a car accident in Chicago?
In an emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. If it is not an emergency, urgent care, your own doctor, an injury clinic or an injury network can evaluate you. An injury network schedules the visit for you.
Should I get checked even if I feel fine?
Pain after a crash often appears a day or more later, so an evaluation soon after the accident is worth considering even when symptoms are mild.
Where can I go after a car accident with no health insurance?
Emergency rooms treat emergencies regardless of insurance. For follow-up care, the injury networks and clinics in our rankings state that accident patients pay nothing upfront.
Nothing in this article is medical or legal advice.