Posted on Monday, June 26th, 2017 at 2:19 am
There are many things to be concerned about after an accident. However, the most important thing to take care of after a car accident is your health. Your car can be replaced and our attorneys can handle your accident claim; however, only you can take care of your health. Taking care of your health includes making and keeping follow-up appointments with your doctors. Regardless of your reason, failing to seek medical treatment or failing to attend follow-up appointments can not only jeopardize your health, but it can also jeopardize your personal injury claim.
If you have questions about an injury claim, call (916) 999-9000 for a free consultation with a Sacramento personal injury lawyer.
After the Emergency Room Visit
Many accident victims go to the emergency room after an accident. When you are discharged from the hospital or the emergency room, you are given follow-up medical care instructions. Your doctor or nurse will explain these instructions to you, including instructions advising you to follow up with your primary care physician, attend physical therapy, or return for a follow-up appointment with the surgeon or other treating physician.
Failing to follow the medical advice can cause health problems. It can also cause problems with your accident claim. The insurance company for the other driver may claim that your injuries are only as severe as they are because you did not follow up with your doctor or follow his instructions. The company may also argue that your injuries did not occur from the accident. In either case, your ability to recover compensation could be harmed.
Watching for Additional Injuries
Follow up appointments identify conditions or injuries not caught at the emergency room. Swelling and excess adrenaline can mask some symptoms. Seeing your doctor for a follow up in the days and weeks after your accident can help identify additional injuries sustained in the accident. Follow up appointments allow your physician to diagnose health issues and injuries correctly.
Monitoring Medical Improvement
Follow up appointments also allow your doctor to monitor your medical improvement. If you are not improving or if you have negative effects from the medical treatment, your doctor can adjust your treatment. Regular appointments are also important to monitor whether you have achieved maximum medical improvement (MMI). You don’t want to settle your injury claim until you reach MMI because you cannot know if you have any long-term medical needs or permanent disability until you reach MMI. Settling your claim too early can result in receiving much less than you deserve for your injuries.
When to Contact a Sacramento Accident Attorney
Right after your accident! Our Sacramento personal injury attorneys can provide the support and guidance you need as you recover from your injuries. We can handle your claim, so you do not have the stress of dealing with an insurance adjuster in addition to dealing with your medical treatment and other details.
For a free consultation with an experienced attorney, call the Tiemann Law Firm at (916) 999-9000. Our law firm serves clients in Sacramento, Folsom, Roseville, El Dorado Hills and other communities in the greater Sacramento area.
