After an auto accident, seeing a doctor if you are injured should be one of the fist things you do. Many people wonder that if they go see a doctor, will it increase the value of a personal injury case. If you go see a doctor after an injury in a car accident you may be entitled to damages because you are hurt. A personal injury case is based on several factors. The most important one, are you injured.
Documentation of injury
The whole idea of seeing a doctor after an accident is to get the documentation for your personal injury attorney. And of course to receive medical care for your injuries. If you never see a doctor for your issues, you don’t really have any case. Furthermore, you can’t expect an insurance adjuster to give you a settlement if you don’t have the medical evidence to back it up.
Different types of doctors bring value to your personal injury case
What type of doctor you see, may have a positive or negative outlook on the value of your personal injury case. If you just went to an acupuncturist you may not be offered a the same settlement as if you went to see a medical doctor. Unfortunately, insurance adjusters and attorneys look at medical care as a huge factor in value. Many discount chiropractic treatment, massage therapy and physical therapy. The majority of accident injuries in the United States is treated by chiropractic care.
Massage Therapy
Massage therapy is one of the earliest forms of pain relief. It involves massaging soft tissue on your body to relieve pain. The majority of auto accidents are soft tissue injuries
Physical therapist
Physical therapist use hands on care and patient education to help with the quality of life. They are movement experts who teach injury patients how to manage their condition through a treatment plan. They are a lot like chiropractors in the fact they restore mobility, reduce pain and prevent disability.
Chiropractic
Chiropractic care is a method designed to manage pain without using medicines. It is mostly used to diagnose and treat Auto Accident Injuries in the musculoskeletal system. Treating mainly treating the spine, skeletons, ligaments, muscles and other connecting tissue that ensures recovery after a car wreck injury. Why is this?
The majority of car wrecks that occur around the us involve soft tissue injuries of the spine and neck. Furthermore, this is a chiropractors specialty. Soft tissue injuries are damage done to the neck and spine are muscles, ligaments, and tendon sprains and strains. A chiropractor works on the spine, massages, and provides stretching exercises to alleviate pain and swelling.
Medical Professional
Medical Professionals are wonderful for auto accidents, the biggest hurdle is finding them. MD’s are difficult to find because they are use to working with health insurance carriers. In some States this has changed, such as pip states, or states that have favorable laws for doctors. Medical Physicians have finally woken up and realized they can make more money in the personal injury industry than they ever could in Health.
The issues with the medical profession is they still want to be paid up front or use funding companies for payment. A good attorney does not like dealing with a funding company to negotiate a medical bill at settlement time.
Different types of medical physicians
- Primary care doctor
- Orthopedic
- Neurologist
- Pain Management
A lot has changed in the last 20 years as far as doctors care after auto accidents. Many years ago it was hard to find a medical doctor to see you after an auto accident. The gateway is still the chiropractor. What i mean by this is most chiropractors who treat personal injury have relationships with Medical Professionals. You generally see a chiropractor first and then he or she wills end you out to the specialist.
If I’m not injured, do I still have some sort of case
All personal injury cases are based on injury. If you are not injured, I seriously doubt an attorney would even look at your case, if you even have one. A personal injury cases will be based on injury, but not that alone. It may also be based on missed work, etc. The main focus will be your injury.
If I go to see a doctor will I get a settlement
Settlements are based on injury and a few other things. Just going to a doctor will not increase the value of your case or get you a settlement. If you go see a doctor ,he will find out if you have an injury sustained in the auto accident. If you do not have an injury related to the auto accident, chances of you getting a settlement from the insurance company are slim to none. They are not going to pay you for something that does not exist.
Seeing a doctor after you have been injured in a car accident will increase the value of your claim. But the big key word here, is injured.
What happens if I do see a doctor and I’m not injured?
If you are not injured and you go to see a doctor claiming injury, that would be considered fraud. Doctors can tell if you are injured by a thorough exam and x-rays, sometimes they may have to do an MRI. Documentation of that injury is what the personal injury lawyer will use to achieve a settlement. If you have no injury to document, how can you expect a settlement.
Fraud
Acting like you are hurt but are not cost everyone thousands of dollars a year in higher insurance. A doctor will be able to tell if you are injured just be an exam. In some areas of the world, doctors are now charging money to see a car accident victim to weed out unethical claims in some areas. If you are willing to pay for medical care, you must be hurting.
Chiropractic care has always been received by many as the most effective way to treat soft tissue injuries. Soft tissue injuries account for approximately 90% of all injury sustained in auto accidents.
The value of a personal injury case is determined by many factors
Seeing a doctor after you have been injured in a car accident will increase the chances of you having a successful recovery in a personal injury case. If you never go see a doctor and you are hurt, you have nothing to prove your injury. If you are injured and wait to see a doctor, you may have a gap in medical care. It’s always a good idea to see a doctor first so he can determine the extent of your injuries. If you have no injury, at least you will find out sooner rather than later. See the doctor first.