How to Speak With Your Doctor After an Accident

Your doctor could affect the outcome of your car accident case in several ways. Knowing how to speak with your doctor after an accident may strengthen your case and help you recover the compensation you need and deserve. 

Those who suffer serious injuries in a New York collision may seek compensation through a fault-based claim or lawsuit. Shulman & Hill attorneys manage this process for victims. Call 212.221.1000 to learn more during a free initial consultation with our team.

Get Medical Care as Soon as Possible

Getting an assessment of your injuries and beginning treatment as soon as possible is essential. It not only ensures you do not have life-threatening injuries, but it gives you the best chance at making a full recovery, as well. 

It is also important for insurance claims and lawsuits. Getting medical care immediately following a crash is the best way to tie your injuries to the collision and reduce the risk that insurers or other parties will claim they occurred elsewhere. 

There are several ways people seek medical care following a crash: 

• Onsite paramedics recommend they go to the hospital by ambulance or medevac.
• They go to the nearest emergency department on their own.
• They make an appointment with their general practitioner.
• They go to a walk-in clinic or urgent care facility.

Which of these best meets your needs depends on several factors, including the apparent severity of your injuries. Some serious injuries do not show obvious symptoms for several hours. For example, internal bleeding may continue for a long time before bruising and pain notify you that something is wrong. 

Ensure You Report All Symptoms to Your Doctor

While your doctor should provide a full assessment of your condition after a crash, some symptoms and injuries are difficult to diagnose without details from the patient. For example, imagine extreme pain in your left wrist after a crash. If you see a doctor immediately, the swelling from a fracture may not be obvious. 

Tell the doctor about any pain or other unusual symptoms to ensure a correct assessment and diagnosis. This is also important if you have additional symptoms that appear later. You should report them to your doctor quickly so they can determine their cause and how to treat the injury.

Continue All Treatment and Follow Up Until Your Doctor Releases You

You must follow all the doctor’s orders to ensure you heal properly, and their records document your full range of injuries, treatment, and healing. This becomes key evidence for fault-based claims and lawsuits. The insurer or jury could reduce the potential value of your case if they think you did not do everything necessary to heal. 

In some cases, your doctor releasing you could be a problem. Your no-fault personal injury protection (PIP) policy will only pay for care until your doctor says you have reached full improvement. It will not pay for future care, which you may need if your injuries are not fully healed. This is why it is imperative that you report all symptoms and continue to discuss any related issues you are having. 

Consider Your Legal Options Based on Your Injuries

Your relevant medical records may play a central role in recovering compensation based on your car accident. PIP coverage pays for basic expenses and losses, including medical care bills and lost income up to the policy maximum or when the doctor deems you fully recovered. 

Filing a fault-based claim or lawsuit allows those with serious injuries to pursue damages for future care costs, future income losses, and pain and suffering. A car accident lawyer on our team may be able to help you seek and recover compensation by proving the severity of your injuries and showing the other driver caused the crash. 

Shulman & Hill is New York’s premier personal injury law firm. We have won over $250 million for our clients hurt by another party’s careless actions. We handle difficult and complex cases, including some that other firms declined. We care about our clients, so every case is personal to us. Learn more about how we may be able to help you during a free initial consultation with our team.

Discuss Your Injuries and Legal Options With Our Team Today for Free

Shulman & Hill provides free case reviews for victims hurt in traffic accidents in New York and New Jersey. We can assess your case and may offer advice about how to speak with your doctor after an accident. Call 212.221.1000 now to learn more.