The first place that victims should go after a car crash is the emergency room. Whether your injuries are apparent or hidden, you need a doctor to make an accurate diagnosis and begin treatment.
You may not realize that conversations with your doctor could help or hurt your claim for compensation. Unfortunately, many injured victims say too much or too little, and these mistakes could make the legal process more complicated. These errors can happen when victims initially seek medical attention or over the course of their treatment.
We discuss these mistakes below. If you were injured in a South Bend car crash caused by driver negligence, our South Bend car accident lawyers are prepared to help you through the legal process. Our firm has a proven track record of getting results and does not charge any upfront fees.
Call today to schedule a free case review: (844) 678-1800.
Taking Legal Advice From Doctors
Your doctor is not qualified to give you legal counsel. Their job is to diagnose and treat your injuries.
Doctors cannot help you with your legal case. More importantly, they are not obligated to keep the information that you disclose to them confidential, like an attorney. Even if your doctor has good intentions, talking to him or her about your case could jeopardize it.
If you need legal advice, you should talk to an experienced attorney, as he or she is qualified to discuss the legal process and your claim.
Failing to Reveal All Your Symptoms
Tell your doctors about all the symptoms you are experiencing. It is important to be specific and provide as many details as possible.
You also need to inform doctors about changes in your symptoms, such as worsening pain or new symptoms. For example, some injuries eventually cause headaches. It may be helpful to write you’re your symptoms before each appointment, so you do not forget something.
Doctors need to know all your symptoms so they can properly diagnose your injuries. Not revealing all your symptoms can make treatment less effective, you could also hurt your case. The insurance company can deny compensation for symptoms you did not report to your doctor.
Not Telling Your Doctor You Cannot Work
Tell your doctor if your injuries make it harder to complete tasks at work. Your doctor can write a note to your employer to restrict your work activities to avoid aggravating your injuries.
If you miss work without telling your doctor that your injuries limit your ability to do your job, you may be unable to obtain compensation for lost wages or loss of earning capacity.
Some victims may hide their work inability from their doctor because they fear losing their jobs. However, continuing to work with serious injuries can prolong your recovery and possibly cause long-term damage.
Other reasons why some victims may not reveal their inability to work to their doctor include:
- Lack of awareness: Some victims may underestimate the severity of their injury and believe they can push through the pain.
- Coping mechanism: If someone was in a traumatic car accident that impacted his or her emotional and psychological well-being, work may feel like a safe place. The victim may not want that to get taken away.
Withholding Psychological or Emotional Issues from Your Doctor
Physical injuries can impact victims emotionally. You may feel anxious, depressed or experience other psychological issues. This could be due to your inability to engage in the activities that you once enjoyed or because you are struggling to adjust to your new physical limitations.
It is important that you discuss your emotional and psychological condition with your doctor. If you do not report these issues, you are not going to be able to include them in your claim.
Your doctor can not only note your symptoms but recommend mental health counseling. This recommendation helps to link your psychological trauma to the crash.
Dishonesty About Your Medical History
Car crashes could make preexisting medical conditions worse, complicating your medical care. Crash victims should inform their doctors of these conditions when they first seek treatment. You should also report any worsening symptoms from a previous injury. This is especially the case if you are seeking treatment from a doctor who is not your primary doctor and does not know about your past medical issues.
Fully informing your doctor about your medical history can help ensure that they make an accurate diagnosis. The doctor can also better distinguish between symptoms you were already experiencing, and new symptoms caused by your new injuries.
If you disclose your preexisting medical condition later in the legal process, the insurance company may think you are hiding information to fraudulently inflate the value your claim.
Being upfront with your doctors can help you avoid these issues that could complicate the legal process and make it harder to recover full compensation.
Exaggerating the Severity of Your Injuries
There is no need to exaggerate the seriousness of your injuries. The truth about your injuries will eventually come to light and your exaggerations hurt your credibility.
If you are seeing a doctor who you think is not taking your injuries seriously enough, you can always seek a second opinion.
Call Pfeifer, Morgan & Stesiak To Discuss Your Case
If you were injured in a car crash, it is important for you to focus on your recovery. Our attorneys are prepared to help you get fair compensation to cover your medical expenses.
There are no upfront costs or fees if you choose to hire our firm. We only get paid if we recover compensation for you. Call us today to discuss your legal options.
Proven results. Millions recovered. (844) 678-1800
