Many of us will skip the doctor's visit after an accident, especially if the injury seems negligible. Seeing a doctor is important from a healthcare and legal standpoint. What appears a simple headache may exacerbate into a traumatic brain injury, or a cut may get infected if you don't seek immediate healthcare treatment. Besides, your healthcare providers' medical records can serve as valuable evidence when it's time to file your personal injury claim. If you’re wondering what to do after an injury, or more specifically, what to discuss with your doctor, this guide is for you.
What to Discuss With Your Doctor After an Injury
According to this post from Avvo, in order to get the best care as well as the most settlement money for an injury you need to see a doctor within 72 hours of an accident.
What Caused the Injury
Instead of just informing that you have a headache, for instance, inform the doctor about the cause of the problem, such as a recent vehicle collision or a slip and fall. In fact, share the precise details of the incident. This will help the doctor better understand your situation, and they develop an effective treatment plan.
Also, your doctor will document all this information, relating it to your medical conditions. Since investigators look for this connection in personal injury cases, it will make your case stronger when you sue the person responsible for your injury.
Your Pre-Existing Health Conditions
Don't think that there's no point in disclosing your past health conditions or injuries to the doctor. If you have asthma, diabetes, or faced a back injury two years ago, sharing this information with your doctor can directly impact the healing process.
Ask What Your Future Treatment Will Involve
Depending on the seriousness of your injury, the healing process can be lengthy and uncertain. Understanding what your future treatment looks like should mentally prepare you as well as help you estimate the cost of medications, physical therapy, and surgeries that you may seek compensation for.
Ask Whether You Should Continue Working or Not?
Some people are so overly loyal to their employers that they’ll continue to work even after sustaining severe injuries in a collision. The determination is undeniably commendable but can prove detrimental to their long-term health. Since working through the pain can exacerbate the condition or cause another injury, ask your healthcare provider about the work-related limitations you should be considering.
By now, you should not just be aware of what to do after an injury but also what to discuss upon seeing a doctor. Moving ahead, your top-most concern should be to find a worker’s compensation lawyer to help you file your claim. For extraordinary assistance, contact Robert T. Edens, an experienced worker’s compensation lawyer serving in Chicago, Waukegan, Libertyville, Woodstock, and Antioch, IL.
