Seeing a doctor the day of your wreck when you’ve been injured in a car crash is essential. A doctor’s care is necessary even when you feel “fine” after an accident.
In Illinois, a doctor’s records and statements might also help you secure compensation if your collision resulted from someone else’s negligence. The following overview will help if you’re not sure what to say to a doctor after a car accident.
Should You Go to a Doctor After an Accident?
Always seek medical care after a motor vehicle crash. Doing so is vital regardless of whether you believe you’ve sustained injuries.
Someone injured in a car wreck might not immediately realize they’re injured. Sometimes, this may be due to adrenaline. Adrenaline may keep someone from perceiving pain when they’ve sustained injuries. Because it’s common for adrenaline to surge during a collision, its effects could prevent you from knowing you’re hurt.
In addition, some types of injuries don’t present noticeable symptoms right away. For example, according to the Mayo Clinic, the signs of a concussion might not be immediately apparent.
Seeing a doctor right away after a crash ensures you receive treatment for injuries you might not know you have. It also establishes a clear link between the wreck and your injuries. This may help when filing an insurance claim later.
What Type of Doctor Should You See After a Motor Vehicle Accident?
Visit your nearest emergency room or urgent care clinic after a motor vehicle crash. Or, if your primary care physician can see you that day, see them instead. Your doctor might recommend you also seek care from healthcare professionals who aren’t physicians. For instance, you may need to see a physical therapist to facilitate your recovery.
What to Say to Your Doctor After a Car Accident
Ensure the person treating you understands you’re seeking care because you were involved in a car wreck. Provide them with any information about parts of your body that you think might have sustained harm.
For example, maybe you knocked your head against part of your vehicle during the crash. Even though you may not experience symptoms now, it’s still important to mention this to a doctor.
Other tips to keep in mind when speaking with a doctor after a collision include:
- Discuss your full medical history
- Mention ALL potential signs of injury you’re experiencing, including anything minor
- Discuss any prior injuries or conditions that are unrelated to the collision
Don’t offer details about the accident or discuss your legal options with a medical professional. Doing so could hurt your case if you make the wrong statement to a doctor and an insurance adjuster hears about it.
However, you might want to ask doctors about their billing policies. Some physicians agree not to bill their patients until after they receive settlements. A doctor may agree to this arrangement if they know you’re taking legal action because a negligent party caused your injuries.
The Importance of Medical Records and Keeping Track of Bills After an Accident
You may seek compensation for your losses after a car wreck in Illinois by filing a claim with the negligent party’s insurance carrier. Treatment for car crash injuries may be expensive. You shouldn’t have to pay for this treatment yourself if your injuries resulted from someone else’s actions or carelessness.
To receive the full compensation to which you’re entitled, you need to provide documentation of your losses. Keeping medical records and copies of medical bills is critical. You can include this documentation with your claim to show an insurance company you deserve the amount of money you’re pursuing.
Speak with an Illinois Car Accident Attorney Today
Seeing a doctor in the immediate aftermath of a wreck is often the first of many interactions with medical professionals for someone who was injured in a crash caused by someone else. You may have to coordinate with doctors on numerous occasions while building your case.
It’s not necessary to handle all correspondence with medical professionals on your own. This is a time to focus on your recovery instead. At JJ Legal, our Illinois car accident lawyers can take over handling your case and speak with doctors on your behalf. We can talk to them about delaying billing on your account until after your claim is resolved.
Those are just a couple of the ways we can help you pursue the compensation you deserve after a negligent party injured you in a motor vehicle accident. Learn more by contacting us online today or calling us at 312-200-2000 for a free case review.
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