Getting medical attention could be the difference between life and death after an accident, but its purpose doesn’t end there. It plays a critical role in the outcomes of a personal injury case in case you intend to file one.
For example, it can help create a link between your injuries and an accident, provide documentation for damage valuation, and help prove that you followed the doctor’s prescribed treatment regimen.
This guide looks into medical treatment after an accident, from the different components of it to how it may impact your case, so keep reading to learn more.
First Aid
First aid is critical after an accident and can be offered by almost anyone. For example, if someone is bleeding profusely, efforts to control the bleeding from an onlooker can help buy enough time before medical help arrives.
It is also the kind of help offered by first responders while on the scene, albeit on a more advanced level. It involves accessing and eliminating immediate threats through measures such as controlling bleeding, resuscitating, and CPR.
Diagnosis
If your injuries necessitate immediate attention, first responders rush the victims to the nearest ER or the ER they choose. Once the injured person is out of danger, the treating doctor may try running diagnostic tests to ascertain the root cause of the problems.
Sometimes, it may take several tests to get to the root of problems, which could significantly increase medical costs. Medical costs influence the value of personal injury cases, so the high cost of diagnostic tests can cause contention in damage valuation, and the at-fault insurer may seek to use a lower multiplier. However, all the costs of the diagnosis will still be part of recoverable economic damages.
Medical Treatment
After diagnosis, your treating doctor will recommend a treatment regimen based on their evaluation of your condition. The cost of medical treatment contributes directly to recoverable economic damages. However, you must produce physical evidence such as doctor’s notes, bills, receipts, and invoices to prove the expenses.
Where you seek medical treatment can influence how an insurer responds to a claim. “Most insurers will not have problems compensating expenses that mainstream healthcare providers incur. However, services sought from non-MDs can be a little problematic, and insurance adjusters may want to use lower multipliers when calculating damages, which is something to keep in mind when choosing a treatment option,” says Pennsylvania personal injury attorney Eric H. Weitz.
Physical And Mental Therapy
There are situations where ordinary medical interventions may not be enough. For example, if an injury leaves you incapacitated, you may need physical therapy to help you get back in shape.
The same applies to when an injury leaves you with significant psychological and emotional damage, necessitating mental therapy. While therapy costs are part of compensable medical expenses, they are limited to only therapy your doctor recommends.
It’s also important to note that when therapy costs become a huge part of medical bills, insurers tend to use a lower multiplier when valuing non-economic damages.
Duration Of Treatment Is Also A Factor
More severe injuries will ultimately result in extended treatment durations, with some conditions requiring a lifetime of care. Compensation is based on the treating doctor and expert witness’s prognosis.
Future medical treatment is somewhat speculative and can attract some opposition from the opposing side, so you want to ensure you have a personal injury lawyer working with you when navigating a claim involving future medical expenses.
