After an auto accident, seeking medical attention should be one of your top priorities if you’ are hurt. Many car accident victims wonder if visiting a doctor can increase the value of their personal injury case. The simple answer is that if you are hurt and see a doctor, you may be entitled to compensation. However, the value of your case depends on several factors, with the most important being whether you are injured.
The Importance of Documenting Injuries
One of the primary reasons to see a doctor after an accident is to document your injuries. This documentation serves two critical purposes:
- It ensures you receive appropriate medical care.
- It provides your personal injury attorney with the evidence needed to build your case.
Without proper medical documentation, it’s nearly impossible to prove your injuries to an insurance medical adjuster, attorney, or in court. Simply put, no documentation means no case.
How Different Doctors Impact Your Case Value
The type of doctor you see can also affect the value of your case. Unfortunately, some insurance adjusters and attorneys place less weight on alternative treatments like chiropractic care, massage therapy, or physical therapy. While these treatments are effective for many accident-related injuries, their impact on settlement offers can vary.
Massage Therapy
Massage therapy is one of the oldest forms of pain relief and is commonly used to treat soft tissue injuries from auto accidents. Soft tissue injuries are among the most common injuries resulting from car accidents.
Physical Therapy
Physical therapists specialize in improving mobility and reducing pain through hands-on care and education. They often help patients develop treatment plans to restore movement and prevent long-term disability.
Chiropractic Care
Chiropractors focus on managing pain without medication, particularly injuries to the spine, ligaments, muscles, and other connective tissues. Soft tissue injuries, such as sprains and strains of the neck and back, are their specialty. These injuries are common in car accidents, making chiropractic care a highly sought-after treatment method.
Medical Doctors
Medical doctors (MDs) are also critical in personal injury cases. They can provide comprehensive evaluations, order advanced imaging like MRIs, and refer patients to specialists like orthopedic surgeons or neurologists.
However, finding an MD who handles auto accident cases can be challenging, as many work primarily with health insurance carriers. In some states, favorable laws, such as Personal Injury Protection (PIP), have made it easier for patients to access care from MDs.
The Role of Specialists
Depending on your injuries, your chiropractor or primary care physician may refer you to specialists, such as:
- Orthopedic surgeons: For bone and joint injuries.
- Neurologists: For head, spine, or nerve injuries.
- Pain management specialists: For chronic pain resulting from the accident.
These specialists can provide additional documentation and care, strengthening your case.
Do You Have a Case if You’re Not Injured?
Personal injury cases are fundamentally based on injury. If you’re not hurt, you likely don’t have a case, as attorneys typically won’t pursue claims without evidence of injury. Other factors, such as lost wages, may contribute to a case, but injury remains the cornerstone of personal injury.
Will Seeing a Doctor Guarantee a Settlement?
Simply seeing a doctor does not guarantee a settlement. Settlements are based on documented injuries and other factors like lost wages, pain and suffering, and future medical needs. If a doctor finds no evidence of injury related to your accident, your chances of receiving compensation are minimal. Insurance companies won’t pay for injuries that don’t exist.
The Risks of Fraudulent Claims
Falsely claiming injury after an accident is considered fraud and has serious consequences. Doctors are trained to detect legitimate injuries through thorough exams, imaging studies, and other diagnostic tools. Fraudulent claims increase insurance costs for everyone and can result in you being charged with a crime.
The Value of seeing a doctor quickly
If you’re hurt in a car accident, seeing a doctor immediately is important for both your health and your case. Delayed care can create gaps in your medical records, which may hurt your claim. Prompt medical attention not only ensures your injuries are properly treated but also provides the documentation needed to support your case.
In summary, visiting a doctor after an auto accident is essential if you are hurt. While it doesn’t guarantee a settlement, it significantly increases your chances of a successful claim. If you’re not hurt, at least you’ll have the peace of mind of knowing so. Don’t delay—see a doctor as soon as possible to protect your health and your rights.