When car accident injuries demand medical treatment, your insurance claim might cover your expenses – as long as you’re careful about what you say to your doctor about it. Car accident lawyers frequently witness clients making innocent mistakes at the doctor’s office that cost them insurance compensation.
If you’re going to the doctor for injuries from a car accident, you should be aware of the most typical mistakes people make in the doctor’s office. Watching what you say and taking your appointments seriously protects you financially and assists your personal injury lawyer in obtaining the highest compensation amount available to you.
What Not to Say to Your Doctor After Being in an Accident?
It is crucial to be prepared when talking to your doctor after an accident, so here are a few ideas on what not to say.
- Do not lie about your injuries
Doctors are highly skilled; if you fake an injury, they will likely detect it quickly. You want your doctor to trust you, and lying about your injuries will not give you that trust. And if your medical records show that you lied about your injuries, the insurance company will have an easy time denying the claim.
- Do not exaggerate your injuries
Similarly, you should not exaggerate the pain caused by your injuries. Your doctor will undoubtedly notice that you are exaggerating, and you do not want that information on your medical records. Do not offer an insurance company any possible ammunition to use against you.
- Do not mention that you are involved in a lawsuit
Most doctors are afraid of being involved in litigation, even if they are not one of the plaintiffs or defendants because they want to protect their careers and prevent a lengthy trial.
- Do not hide your pain
If you are in severe pain that prevents you from functioning, inform your doctor. Being stoic and trying to carry on while in pain can worsen your injuries and reduce the value of your claim because the insurance company will argue that your injuries are not as severe as you claim.
- Not Seeking Medical Attention immediately After the Accident
The injured party is responsible for proving their case regarding personal injuries resulting from a car accident. Insurance companies believe that if a person does not see an accident doctor following a vehicle collision, they are not seriously injured enough to be compensated.
Even if you only experience minor aches and pains after a car accident, you should see a doctor. Some injuries do not worsen for several days or weeks after the car accident. Get medical care as soon as possible.
- Getting Legal Advice from Your Doctor
A doctor’s sole responsibility is to offer medical care to treat your injuries. They are not trained to provide legal advice; therefore, do not seek it from them regarding your vehicle accident.
Not only that but many physicians dislike being engaged in lawsuits. As a result, it may deter them from delivering the care you require. Avoid making statements that may affect your injury case in the future.
- Not telling your doctor about your Inability to work
When you visit a doctor after a car accident, tell them if your medical complications limit your capacity to work. When the accident occurs, you may not know if your injuries will prevent you from working.
However, if you detect any changes in your body, tell them at your follow-up appointments.
- Not showing up for medical appointments
Insurance companies will ask for your medical records while considering compensation. If you consistently skip appointments to the accident doctor, it may impact your personal injury claim.
There should only be one valid justification for missing an appointment. If you have more than a couple of no-shows on your record, you will appear not committed to receiving treatment.
Furthermore, if your doctor is dissatisfied with your missing appointments, they may become a bad witness.
- Stopping medical treatment.
You might be wondering when to stop treatment following an accident. It’s easy to discontinue medical treatment once you’re feeling better, but don’t. Continue until your doctor clears you.
Large gaps between healthcare visits can harm your injury case since they give the impression that you have fully recovered.
- Not Taking Prescribed Medication.
Taking the medication advised by your accident doctor is another critical component of winning your personal injury case. If you have any adverse side effects, notify your doctor so that they can make the necessary modifications.
Not taking your medications could affect your claim by demonstrating that you were unwilling to follow the doctor’s instructions.
- Not keeping personal records.
When seeing a doctor following a car accident, keep a personal file. Speak with your Columbia personal injury lawyer about all of the medical providers you saw for your injuries. Record any treatment referrals, doctor’s orders, or work restrictions issued by the physician.
This ensures you have all the essential evidence to support your claim. It also offers your attorney with enough evidence to make a strong case for you.
Why you should always be completely honest with your doctor?
Your doctor diagnoses and treats your injuries based on the information you provide. Being entirely honest about your symptoms, medical history, and the circumstances surrounding the accident enables your doctor to create the most efficient treatment plan for your recovery.
If you file a personal injury claim, your medical records are necessary evidence in establishing a causal link between the event and your injuries. Your medical records may also be utilized to determine fault and liability and calculate the damages owed.
Being truthful with your doctor ensures that your medical records accurately represent your injuries and their effects on your life.
Contact Our Experienced Personal Injury Attorneys After Being in an Accident in Nevada!
The Nevada personal injury lawyers at Lach Injury Law have years of expertise in coaching accident victims and assisting them in recovering the maximum compensation for their injuries. We can advise you on what to say and what not to say to your doctor so that you can collect the compensation you require.
Our team has several years of combined expertise and has collected millions in compensation for accident victims like you. Contact us today to get a free consultation.