How to Find the Right Car Accident Doctor (9 Simple Steps)

Important Steps To Choose the Right Car Accident Physician

Finding the correct doctor after a car accident is essential.

Proper medical documentation of your injuries is required to obtain the maximum compensation from insurers.

While your primary care doctor is a good starting point, after a major crash they aren't qualified to treat your traumatically induced injuries.

You will need to see the appropriate specialist to guide your treatment plan.

What type of specialist doctor you will need will depend upon the nature of the injuries you sustained.

If you are hurt in an accident an orthopedic doctor is a good starting point.

If you suffer a concussion or brain injury you will want to see a neurologist.

If you hurt your spine in the crash you may need to see a spine specialist or a neurologist experienced with back and spine injuries.

The treatment plan they create for you will guide your recovery and can include physical therapy, rehabilitation, pain management, and potential surgery if required.

Your personal injury attorney can help make sure you obtain the proper specialist care to guide your treatment moving forward.

1. Take Action quickly - Time is short to receive proper care (needed for an injury claim later)
2. Avoid relying only on your primary care doctor - We review why this is a mistake in detail below
3. See an Injury Specialist - Review types of vehicle accident doctors below
4. Value of Medical Records - Documenting your injuries is crucial. It’s you versus the insurance company
5. Talk to the Doctor about their experience with personal injury cases. (Don’t be worried to ask questions)
6. Share before AND after symptoms - Tell every Doctor you see about all your symptoms before and after the car crash.
7. Continuous Care - Continuously visit the doctor until you feel as good as you did before the accident (Don’t settle for “I am healthy enough”)
8. Avoid Legal Referral Services (See why this can keep you from getting paid what you should- find out more below)
9. Consult with a personal injury attorney (Find a lawyer with vehicle accident case experience)

Following these steps will ensure you or your loved one are cared for and compensated for the injures you suffered.

 

 

Keep in mind the list should be followed whether you were involved in a minor or severe vehicle crash.

Victims of minor impacts, like low speed rear-end collisions or small fender benders, commonly determine to “shake-off” the pain. Later on they begin to suffer from a lingering injury that is getting worse. Now it may be to late, and it can have impact the value of your settlement.

Unfortunately, they made two crucial mistakes after the accident:

1. They only saw their Primary Care Physician accepted by their insurance provider, which is virtually useless for their personal injury case.
2. Waited too long to file a claim for personal injury benefits.

 

 

Take Action Quickly (Filing Claims vs. Getting Proper Treatment)

Each State has different laws and time limits for filing an injury claim due to a car accident.

States use either “No-Fault” PIP or “At-Fault” Tort laws to govern vehicle collision cases.

The important thing to know is the time available file a claim/lawsuit and the time taken to receive proper medical care are different and critically linked.

By understanding these examples from two of the most populated States, you will see why receiving the correct medical treatment quickly is so important.

 

 

Florida - “No-Fault” PIP State Example

Florida Law allows up to 5 years to file an injury claim under your PIP insurance or a lawsuit for negligent actions in a vehicle crash.

This seems like a long-time so people think they can deal with pain or ignore their injuries at seek action later if needed.

Unfortunately this is the crucial mistake. In order to file a claim within the 5 years you must seek treatment within two weeks (14 days) of the crash.

If proper treatment (more on this below) is not documented with 2 weeks a claim void.

 

California - “At-Fault” Tort State Example

California Law allows up to 1 year from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit against an at-fault driver or their insurance company.

Once injured in a car crash victims should seek medical care quickly for more than just their health. Medical records become evidence.

The closer proximity of medical documentation of pain/injury and a car wreck the better. Proximate medical evidence holds far more weight in personal injury cases. This increases the likelihood of proving case in Tort-States like California.

In any State, taking immediate steps to find proper medical care is good for your overall wellbeing and important to any case or claim you file. Everyone should see their trusted primary doctor if injured but don’t stop there.

Example of a Treatment Plan Harming Compensation

A female driver is rear-ended by a commercial truck. The airbag deploys but she still hits her head on the car door resulting in neck pain and headaches. She is checked-out at the scene and sent home.

She visits her general doctor the next day. After an examination the Doctor prescribes rest and Axert headache medication. After two months the headaches and neck pain continue.

Regrettably, her insurance company will only pay her claim based on her General Practitioner’s treatment plan she submitted.

Insurance companies are experts at settling claim quickly and inexpensively. They understand the time and difficulty in finding an experienced personal injury physician.

Automobile accident victims will experience pain in specific areas of their body after a vehicle collision. Doctors that specializes in the area injured should be seen.

See a Medical Specialist after Auto-Accident (Types of Injury Doctors)

Insurance companies base the value of your claim on your Doctor’s evaluation of your injures. A general practitioner is generally viewed as not considered qualified to treat traumatic harm caused in a car accident.

Seeking care from orthopedic doctors, neorologists, and other specialists that treat your specific injuries can provide three enormous benefits.

Why you should see Specialist:

• Best chance for complete patient recovery and diagnosis of permanent damage
• Specific treatment planning for short-term and long-term care needs
• In-depth documentation of medical issues for increased claim value

There are numerous branches of Medicine where you can receive the care needed for the most common motor vehicle accident injuries.

 

 

Types of Vehicle Accident Doctor

 

Orthopedist

• Treats injuries to the skeletal system and its related muscles, joints and ligaments with surgery.


• Most common specialty sought after an accident that involves broken bones, neck trauma or spinal fractures. Especially with moderate to severe injuries.

Neurologists

• Treatment of the nervous system including the brain, neck, spine and the entire nerve system.


• Specialized care for head and spinal cord injuries commonly associated with collisions. Should be seen if any Traumatic Brain Injury occurs.

Physiatrists

• Provides medical care for pain, numbness, spasticity, loss of function and weakness with the goal of increasing a patient’s quality of life.


• Usually seen after other doctors to increase patients wellness and a permanent injury resulting in disability.

Chiropractors

• Cares for the injured using noninvasive therapy on the spinal and neck joints. Treatments include manual adjusting and manipulation of spinal vertebrae.


• Normally used for chronic back pain from a minor to moderate collisions. Treatment can be ongoing to herniated discs and misalignments.

 

These Doctors provide important healthcare services and comprehensive medical records to patients.

The result is justification for the true value medical claims to be made in your case.

Documenting Injuries: The Value of Medical Records

When you receive medical care the Doctor records everything in your medical chart.

When filing an accident claim your insurance adjuster will request medical transcripts in an attempt to value your claim.

Two insider tips to keep your claim from being denied or reduced:

• Make sure the medical records submitted are from the specialist you visited and not your general doctor. These transcripts will establish the real value of your claim.
• Ensure the medical transcripts sent are specific to the accident. If you already were seeing a specialist for a different injury the insurance company may try and undervalue your claim as a pre-existing condition to your accident.

 

Medical Records Requests

Insurance companies are experts at quickly and inexpensively closing cases. You may only be involved in an accident once in your life. Insurers are well trained and deal with accident victims everyday.

When reviewing insurance requests for your medical records ask yourself if the request seems reasonable. Asking why they need additional medical history is okay.

If the request seems unreasonable you CAN say “no”.

Remember claims end up in litigation where lawyers determine what previous medical transcripts/history are admissible.

 

Types of Medical Records

The value of your claim or case will be affected greatly by the type of medical surgeries, treatments and prescriptions you need. All of the following information will be be compiled in your medical records:

• Comprehensive record of what occured in the accident specific to you.
• Detail of any pre-existing conditions to establish any worsening effects.
• Account of all physical tests of your abilities. Range of motion, nerve compression testing and other stress tests.
• Mental acuity and cognitive tests commonly associated with head injuries
• Psychological evaluations for developing depression and driving anxiety
• Medical equipment tests performed like X-Rays, MRIs, Cat Scans
• Medications prescribed for headaches, pain, anxiety, etc. Therapies needed for disabilities - Occupational, Vocational or Physical rehabilitation
• Surgical specialist visits to establish your need and ability to undergo potential surgical produces
• Surgeries performed
• Evaluation and diagnosis of pain management needs
• Establishing the cause of injuries, disability and pain
• Assessment of irreversible damage and permanent loss of abilities
• Short-term and Long-term case needs
• Capacity or inability to re-enter normal daily life, like driving a car without fear.

All these records should be saved. Keep everything down to your empty medication bottles. Scan all your receipts for over-the-counter drugs or medical devices you purchase.

 

Why You Should Avoid Legal Referral Offices

After an accident you should not wait to visit Doctors for medical treatment, begin claims and seek legal advice. With all this going on it is understandable how people fall into “easy-to-do” trap of legal medical referrals.

Known as “Pain Injury Mills” these doctor’s offices have established a bad reputation within their own industry, the insurance business and the legal system.

They claim to quickly help those injured in accidents. The focus is normally on using up the patient’s insurance benefits instead of establishing actual patient needs and records.

Pain Mill Doctors’ records will be viewed in the medical, legal and insurance profession with skepticism. This makes your claim or case more difficult to prove in the end.

 

Find Help from Real Professionals after Car Accident (Doctors, Attorneys and Experts)

In the course for proving a medical claim or case attorneys will use four key witnesses.

• Treating Doctors
• Medical Experts
• Life Care Planners
• Vocational PhDs

To establish a case accident attorneys need medical experts. These are usually Doctors. The better a Doctor’s reputation the more difficult it is for defense lawyers to discredit them. This is the main reason Pain Injury Mill Doctors are not good witnesses.

Expert Personal Injury attorneys should work with your Doctor. They will also provide your treating Doctor access to their Medical Expert.

 

This has two extremely valuable benefits for accident victims.

• When treating Doctors and Medical Expert Doctors collaborate on your health, then additional treatments and care paths can be found that help you overcome pain and suffering.
• When these Doctors and Experts work together they assist attorneys with understanding your injury and establish solid medical evidence.

 

Beyond Medical Experts qualified attorneys use Life Care Planners. A Life Care Planner is an expert at accurately projecting the costs of a patient’s future care needs.

Future Care Needs used to predict costs:

• Medication and Drug treatments
• Futurel Medical Exams
• Health evaluations
• Specialized Medical Equipment
• Long-term and Home healthcare needs
• Rehabilitation
• Palliative Care (Specialized Care for seriously injured)

The collective accounting of all these medical costs will be used a evidence. When injured in a car accident an unfortunate side effect is the loss or lessening of employment opportunities.

Vocational PhDs are experts in showing how someone’s life has changed as the result of an accident. They normally have Doctorates in their field and use this knowledge to establish the future loss of employment.

Type of Information they establish as evidence:

• Medical Records
• Job Responsibilities
• Employment history
• Skills required

They will use this information to create a report. The report will be presented in court to show how your injuries have hindered your ability to return to your job, obtain advancement or perform tasks previously completed before the accident.

Doctors and Medical experts will be critical in getting what is rightfully yours after an accident. To make it all work together you should consult with a personal injury attorney.