There are many important steps to take after suffering an injury. Perhaps one of the most vital steps is to seek medical treatment after the accident. But did you know that continuing medical treatment is just as important?
Below, the South Bend car accident attorneys discuss how continuing the appropriate medical treatment for your injuries may strengthen your claim and could help win your case.
For Your Own Wellbeing
First, seeking medical treatment after an injury is important. This is not just to help your claim, it is for the good of your health.
Diagnosing a More Serious Condition
Sometimes, injuries from an accident may not be immediately noticeable because your body might still be in shock after the crash and is still processing some underlying injuries. Even if you do not feel pain or discomfort in certain parts of your body, getting the appropriate medical attention may help diagnose an issue that could bring about serious consequences in the future.
For example, you could feel some initial soreness in your neck and back after an accident, but unless you undergo an X-ray or MRI, you may not know that you have a herniated disk in your neck that could lead to more pain and discomfort if not properly treated.
Getting the Necessary Treatment for your Injuries
Once your injuries have been properly diagnosed by a medical professional, your doctor should make recommendations and continue the necessary care so that you can heal and hopefully get back to feeling the way you felt before the accident. It is important to follow your doctor’s orders so you may avoid aggravating or worsening an injury.
Strengthening Your Claim with Medical Evidence
Medical evidence such as X-rays, MRIs, CT Scans and other records of medical treatment may help strengthen your claim because they prove you have an injury. Keeping up with treatment also establishes the link between the accident and your injuries, helping prove your injuries were caused by the accident and that the insurance company is liable and should pay up.
Continuing your medical treatment also shows that you are taking the necessary precautions for treating your injuries so the insurance adjuster may not be able to argue that your injuries are not as severe as you want them to think and therefore, they are not responsible for any other payout.
Gaps in Treatment May Harm Your Claim
Life gets in the way and sometimes you may not be able to make it to every doctor’s appointment. But it would be in your best interest to make the effort to attend as many appointments as possible because skipping too many of them could reflect poorly on your injury claim. If missing work is a concern and causes you to miss treatments, you could have a strong argument for lost wages if you must take unpaid time off to make it to the necessary appointments.
Gaps in treatment could strengthen the insurance adjuster’s claim that you are not taking your treatment seriously. This could lead them to outright deny your claim.
Our attorneys are prepared to work with you to prevent legitimate gaps in treatment from being used against you.
Speak to a Knowledgeable Attorney
Our attorneys know the excuses insurance adjusters use to deny claims. We are prepared to take on the insurance company on your behalf to strengthen your claim with medical proof and other evidence to help show your injuries were caused by the negligence of another driver.
We offer a free case review and do not charge you anything while we work to build your case, so there is no risk to you.
Call us today at (574) 444-0741 to schedule your free consultation.
