Many people are surprised to find that their regular doctors are reluctant to treat their car accident injuries. While your family physician may have a longstanding relationship with you, the truth is he may not be the ideal person to treat these specific injuries,and he may not be willing to handle the legal technicalities that come with them.
Your Family Physician May Not Be the Best Fit for Your Accident Treatment
A family physician may refer patients to specialists when they do not have the experience or equipment to treat widespread injuries. However, many car accident patients will continue to see the specialist even for follow-up evaluations after their injuries have healed, keeping treatment for these specific injuries under the control of one doctor. This is usually better for the accident victim for a number of reasons:
- Timelines. A doctor who treats your injury from start to finish will create a clear timeline of how your injury has progressed. Your first visit should begin with a thorough examination and diagnostic testing (such as x-rays) so the doctor can determine the best course of treatment. The doctor can notate all of his recommendations, such as physical therapy, surgery, medications, limitations, and more as each week goes by, allowing the insurer and the judge in an injury case to see a full picture of how you have been affected by the crash.
- Documentation. Physicians who specialize in car accident injuries are aware of how important it is to keep close records of everything that could affect compensation in your case. All of your injuries must be documented correctly, meaning they should be dated, notated, and have complete and accurate information. Letters, photographs, statements, and other detailed crash-related medical records are key to winning an injury case and getting full compensation from an insurance company.
- Litigation. Any doctor who has treated your accident-related injuries can be called upon to testify if your injury case goes to court. Even if the doctor is not called to testify, he or she may still be asked to give a deposition to the two lawyers in the case. Family doctors often have little experience testifying in open court, and may be unwilling to spend the time it takes in litigation away from his patients. On the other hand, physicians who typically treat crash injuries are usually familiar with the legal process, and they know how to give testimony that will show the true nature of the victim’s injury.
- Billing. Your regular physician probably already has your health insurance information on file to bill the insurer for the costs of your medical care. However, after a car accident, any injury treatments you receive should be billed directly to the third-party insurer from your crash rather than to your own medical provider. Third-party insurers are typically the auto insurance provider of the at-fault driver, and these policies may have rules, limits, and co-pays that differ greatly from your own health insurance. It may seem like a small difference, but billing the wrong insurance company can have a big impact on injury compensation.
Finding the Right Doctor for Your Car Accident Case
It is vital for crash victims to find a physician to treat their injuries who is knowledgeable about car accident injuries and claims. When seeking out a doctor, ask him or her about past experience treating crash injuries, including whether or not he or she has given testimony in court. The doctor should have systems in place to accommodate third-party billing, provide medical documentation at your request, and stay with you throughout the course of your treatment to ensure that your plan for recovery has the best chance of success.
If you have been injured in a wreck in Tennessee, our car accident lawyers can help you get the compensation you deserve. Fill out our online contact form today to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with our legal team.
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