We have over 15 years treating personal injury cases. We know how important it is to choose the best auto accident doctor for your injuries, and avoid costly, time-consuming mistakes along the way. This guide will assist you in finding the best auto accident doctor for your case.
First off, please call 911 if you are seriously injured. You should be selecting an auto accident doctor if you have been treated in a hospital, urgent care or simply want a checkup following a car crash.
First and foremost, Your health must be the top priority. You should seek a auto accident doctor if you experience pain or discomfort following a car crash. If you ignore your pain, it could worsen and lead to chronic conditions. Do not be a victim, you didn’t choose this situation, but you can take charge of your recovery.
Follow these six easy steps to take charge of your recovery following a car crash and avoid the pitfalls. Each step is described in detail, along with a list of frequently asked questions and their answers. Asking for help is the best place to begin. We speak to many personal injury patients each day. Find the auto accident doctor now!
Step 1: Your PCP may not be the best doctor to see
Many people mistakenly believe that their family doctor is also an auto accident doctor. This is the number one confusing question we get when dealing with personal injury patients. There are two reasons you shouldn’t see a PCP for car accidents.
Most primary care clinics do not accept third-party billing. If you go to your PCP instead of an auto accident doctor, you could be charged out of pocket for a visit.
PCP’s are specialists in treating people with internal medical conditions.
They may prescribe medication and refer patients to other physicians, but they don’t focus on whiplash and soft tissue injuries. Most likely, your primary care provider will not do third-party billing. They also do not have the ability to refer to an Auto Accident doctor.
Most primary care physicians wont work on an attorneys lien. An attorneys lien is your attorney basically guarantees payment to the physician if your case settles. Its an agreement with the attorney and the physician and it is in force when both parties sign it.
Soft tissue injuries
Soft Tissue Damage is the most common injury after a auto accident. Muscle tissue, tendons, and ligaments can be torn, causing severe pain. Your Pc does not treat soft tissue injuries, although he may provide you with some prescriptions or a referral to physical therapy.
We do however recommend that you contact your PCP. Ask them if you can be treated using third-party billing, or an attorneys lien. IF they cant do that, you need to see an Auto accident doctor to address your injuries.
Step 2: Find a auto accident doctor who treats injuries from car crashes and will accept third-party billing.
Third-party billing is only used for auto, tractor trailer, motorcycle, and slip-and fall injuries. Third-party billing excludes personal health insurance and money paid out of pocket. Most all auto accident doctors accept third party billing. Do not accept any treatment from a physician who does not accept third-party billing or an attorneys lien.
Third-party billing is the payment made to a doctor for treating injuries. Auto accident doctors treat personal injury victims with a letter of protection (LOP) provided by an attorney, Personal Injury Protection, Med Pay and auto insurance. After a car crash, you should never pay for any treatment out-of-pocket.
When you contact your physician, it is helpful to be prepared with all your paperwork and questions. A good auto accident doctor will want to learn:
- Date of the accident?
- Where you were cited or did you receive a ticket
- Have you got a police report on hand?
- Have you visited the Urgent Care or Emergency Room?
- You have been treated by a different physician.
- What is the auto insurance company?
- Do you have a claim number from the auto insurance company?
- Do you have an Attorney?
Find the best auto accident doctor for your personal injury!
It’s your turn. Check out the auto accident doctor’s website and read testimonials from previous patients. What is the age of the physician, does the website have pictures, are there reviews about him? You can use this opportunity to determine if the auto accident doctor is right for you. However, you doctor is only a mouse click and a zip code away.
A good list of questions to ask a potential auto accident doctor includes:
- Do they third-party billing?
- What injuries can you treat?
- Do you know what medical documentation is?
- Do you provide pick-up and drop-off services? (If needed)
- Do you have the capability to refer patients to other specialists when needed? (Orthopedic Surgeons Neurologists, Physical Therapy).
Step 3: Find a doctor who can document your injuries.
When it comes to determining your medical claim’s value, the most important factor is your medical records or documentation you have. After you’ve completed your medical treatment, your medical records or documentation will be reviewed by the insurance company to determine your claim’s value.
Better documentation from an auto accident doctor will result in a higher settlement. However, it is up to your attorney to present this evidence to the insurance carrier, not yours or the treating physician.
The key to winning a personal injury claim is the documentation of your injuries.
What makes a strong documentation in a personal injury case? Let’s first look at it from the perspective of an insurance company.
Primary Care
Standard notes from PCP’s may say “patient has shoulder pain, headaches and neck stiffness.” Flexeril was prescribed, as well as some pain killers. But what does it say to your insurance company? What can an insurance company do with such little information about your injuries?
Table of contents
- Step 1: Your PCP may not be the best doctor to see
- Step 2: Find a auto accident doctor who treats injuries from car crashes and will accept third-party billing.
- Step 3: Find a doctor who can document your injuries.
- Step 4: Tell your auto accident doctor about all your medical conditions, injuries and illnesses.
- Step 5: Continue to treat with your auto accident doctor until you achieve MMI.
- Step 6 – Can a Injury lawyer help me?
- Find an auto accident doctor – Q&A
- Find Auto Accident Doctors near you
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- Will seeing a Doctor increase the value of my car accident case?
- Thanksgiving Accidents
- The Importance of Thorough Medical Records in a Personal Injury Case
- Who Is At Fault in a Car Accident, and How Is It Determined?
- How Injury Attorneys and Medical Professionals Work Together to Strengthen Personal Injury Claims
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Specialist in Auto Injury Cases
Imagine that you have been treated by a auto accident doctor, and that your documentation contains the following:
- List of injuries resulting from an accident
- List of all medical test performed, such as nerve compression test and range-of motion test.
- What kind of Imaging has been done and what the results are (MRI, CT SCAN, X-RAYS)
- Have you seen a pain specialist or someone who could evaluate you for surgery?
- What was the cause of your issue, and did it aggravate pre-existing injuries?
- Is your injury permanent or temporary?
- Future medical needs
- How will your injury affect your employment, your happiness, and your daily routine?
Insurance Company
What will Insurance company think when they evaluate your medical claim? It is important for your attorney to let the insurance company know the extent of your injuries, pain and suffering. They will be able to convince the insurance company to pay more for your injuries.
The value of your claim depends on the quality of your auto accident doctor. Unfortunately, your pcp is not trained in personal injury documentation, regardless of how good they may be. Auto accident doctors have the necessary training to deal with the documentation and litigation that could follow.
Step 4: Tell your auto accident doctor about all your medical conditions, injuries and illnesses.
Tell your auto accident doctor about all of your pre-existing conditions and previous injuries. Your claim and credibility will be damaged if you try to hide pre-existing conditions. Most importantly, your treatment could be compromised if your physician doesn’t know .
Imagine that you have a fused disk in your spine from a prior back surgery, and then re-injure your back during an accident. If you fail to tell your auto accident doctor about this, it could lead to potential issues if they try and treat you. Before they can help recover, your auto accident doctor needs to be aware of all current and past medical conditions.
Know your pre-existing conditions and tell your auto accident doctor
Your pre-existing condition will not harm your case. In fact, they could even help it! Clinics, Attorneys, and Insurance Companies all know that people who have pre-existing injuries can be more easily hurt and are harder to help. Your pre-existing condition will likely give you more treatment, and not less.
You must provide documentation of all pre-existing medical conditions prior to treatment for your personal injury. Insurance companies will doubt your claim if you fail to disclose any prior conditions. You may be accused of trying to manipulate your auto accident doctor into treating past conditions, and the insurance company will diminish the value of the medical claim.
Step 5: Continue to treat with your auto accident doctor until you achieve MMI.
On your first appointment with the auto accident doctor, you should be given a complete breakdown of all treatments that you may need. Notice we said “may need”. This is because after you start treating, you may need to see a specialist. In order to to get you to maximum medical improvement specialist such as medical, orthopedic, or neurologist physicians are needed.
People who have been injured in a car crash should seek immediate medical attention and adhere to all the auto accident doctor’s treatment plan.
Medical treatment gaps
Do not allow gaps in your medical treatment. Treatment gaps reduce the value of your medical claim, and the likelihood that you’ll fully recover. Insurance companies are aware that gaps in treatment can lead to a weak personal injury case. Never allow gaps in your treatment. Follow the advice of your auto accident doctor and stick with your treatment plan.
Step 6 – Can a Injury lawyer help me?
Most auto accident doctors recommend working with a Personal injury Attorney in cases where treatment will be needed for a longer period of time. They can document your future medical needs and deal directly with insurance companies so that you don’t need to. Most importantly, attorneys will represent you in court if necessary.
Medical Experts
If your case is taken to court, attorneys may hire medical experts. These experts will work with you and your auto accident doctors to determine the impact of your injuries on your life, and how they may affect your ability to function in the future. A second important function is to determine your ability to work. A Medical Expert can explain how an injury may affect your ability to work, be hired, receive raises or promotions, or reduce your overall work life.
Care plans are also created by attorneys to help with the documentation of your case. A care plan is a detailed list of current and future medical requirements. This list includes medication, equipment, surgery, home care and rehabilitation, as well as any other special needs. Attorneys and auto accident doctors work together to ensure that no detail is missed.
Minor Injuries
What if I only have minor injuries? Do I need an attorney? You don’t have to hire an attorney. Most of our patients don’t have one before their first visit.
Many auto accident doctors have a network of personal injury attorneys that they work with, and many clinics offer free consultations. When deciding whether an attorney is the right choice for you, your auto accident doctor is a valuable resource. Your treating physician knows your injuries and what care you will need in the future better than anyone else. They can make refer you to attorneys who handle nothing but personal injury cases.
Find an auto accident doctor – Q&A
Every month, we speak to hundreds of victims and understand what it takes to locate a good auto accident doctor. Here is a list with answers to questions that people have asked after being injured in a car crash.
You should see an auto accident doctor who accepts third-party billing, or attorney liens and specializes in personal injury. We recommend that, in most cases, you consult a physician who is specialized in muscle manipulation, soft tissue damage, and physical therapy.
Most medical clinics offer general screening and can prescribe medication, and will not accept third-party billing. It is best to find a auto accident doctor that offers medical centers as well as physical therapists, chiropractors and other healthcare professionals. It is important to provide the best possible care for patients with soft tissue injuries as some are not visible on X-rays.
It depends on the state. Some states require that you see a doctor within three months of a crash, while others only require two weeks. Bottom line: If you’re in pain after a crash, you should go to an auto accident doctor immediately.
You should go to the auto accident doctor if you’re in pain or hurting. The most important thing is your health. Don’t delay! After a car crash, the first thing you should do is seek immediate medical attention. However, some people don’t have any pain the day of the accident or a few days after. Then they feel the pain, usually after you wake up in the morning. This is when you need to see us quickly.
No, there are two separate claims – one for property damage and another for injury. If you have been injured, you should not sign anything to settle your injury claim. Make sure you speak with an attorney or ask your doctor about what you are signing. If you dont have an attorney, ask your treating physician for help
After a car crash, headaches are common. However, they may not occur immediately. It can take a couple of days to feel the effects. Headaches can also indicate more serious muscle or joint damage due to whiplash.
Delayed pain is very common with soft tissue injuries. And these are the number one accident related injuries. You may not feel any pain for hours or days. However, you still need to get checked out by an auto accident doctor. You may have hidden or delayed injuries and it gives you peace of mind.
Yes! The stronger your case is, the more documentation you can provide. Documenting and preserving evidence is another way to assist your lawyer in the event of a trial. Document all over-the-counter medications such as Tylenol and Advil. This will help everyone understand how the accident has affected you.
Yes. Your auto accident doctor should be informed of the prior injury. You must also inform him or her of any pre-existing conditions.
Absolutely, that’s what pip is for. Pip is used to treat you or anyone in your car at the time of the accident, no matter who was at-fault. Hence, no-fault insurance coverage. Your auto accident doctor will help you through the process and can recommend an attorney who can assist if needed. They will also help you fill out the paperwork and offer claims assistance. Many people have never been through this process before, and we are here to help. In many states, you must seek treatment within 14-days of a crash to receive PIP benefits.
Go to the hospital immediately! If you have personal injury protection, the hospital can file directly on your auto insurance. If you were a pedestrian or a passenger in a car, the at fault drivers insurance company is responsible. All auto accident doctors will treat you with no out of pocket expense. We will file an attorneys lien or bill the auto insurance company.
Find Auto Accident Doctors near you
See the doctor ASAP, even if you feel you cant afford to do so. There are many payment arrangements that can be made without money coming out of your pocket.
In states without PIP, the majority of auto accident doctors treat you using a letter of protection or lien from an attorney. A LOP is a contract between you, your auto accident doctor, and your attorney. This agreement is like a promissory letter that is sent to your auto accident doctor, guaranteeing that they will be compensated for the treatment you received when your claim has been settled.
This guide is intended to be informative. Our business is to find people auto accident doctors following a car crash