Medical care is one of the most important elements of every successful personal injury case. For this reason, if you are hurt because of someone else’s negligence and are filing a personal injury claim, you should learn the “Eight Golden Rules” of handling medical care to strengthen your claim.
How to handle medical care in a personal injury case?
If you are preparing to file a personal injury claim or have already filed one after getting injured, it is critical to follow these golden rules to strengthen your legal case and maximize compensation:
Attend all doctors’ appointments. Never skip doctor visits. Failure to attend all doctors’ appointments can be used against you during the personal injury claims process to challenge the severity of your injuries and undervalue or deny your claim altogether.
Be honest with your doctor. It is vital to tell your doctor everything about your injury or condition and be completely honest. If you feel any symptoms, do not be embarrassed to notify your doctor. Your doctor’s detailed records and notes will play a crucial role in your personal injury case.
Follow all of the doctor’s orders. Do everything your physician recommends and follow their orders. Failure to follow your doctor’s orders can negatively impact your personal injury case because the insurance company will have an excuse to say that you failed to take reasonable steps to mitigate damages.
If prescribed, go to physical therapy sessions. If your doctor prescribed physical therapy, you should not skip those sessions. First of all, physical therapy can help speed up your recovery. Second of all, not attending physical therapy sessions could significantly devalue your injury claim.
Follow your doctor’s work restrictions. If your physician has given any work restrictions, make sure that you do everything your doctor says. If you engage in activities that could compromise your recovery, the insurance company could deny your claim altogether.
Attend follow-up visits. If you are dealing with any continuing or new symptoms, you should attend follow-up visits and tell your physician about your recovery progress and any new or continuing symptoms. Failure to attend follow-up doctor visits may be misinterpreted by the insurance company as evidence that you have recovered.
Keep a journal. Writing down everything you feel while recovering from your injury can also strengthen your personal injury case. That’s why it is a good idea to keep a journal describing how you feel and how your condition changes on a day-to-day basis. Keeping a diary is also an excellent way to prove pain and suffering damages, which may be awarded in your personal injury case.
Gather evidence of lost income. Since lost wages can represent a significant portion of your personal injury settlement, it is vital to keep accurate documentation regarding lost income and missed work.
There’s so much more you can do to strengthen your personal injury case besides handling medical care. It is advised to retain a skilled personal injury attorney to help you manage the legal aspects of your claim while you focus on your physical recovery. Schedule a consultation with our Lakeland personal injury attorney at The Turnbull Firm to help you build a strong legal case. Call 863-324-3500.
