If you were hurt in a car accident that a negligent driver caused, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries from their insurance company. While you may know that you need to seek medical care for obvious injuries, you may not realize how important it is to follow your doctor’s advice fully and receive all the treatments you need for your injuries. This is a critical step when building a winning case so that you receive the maximum recovery in your settlement.
Why Is Following Your Doctor’s Medical Advice Important?
You should obtain prompt medical care after your collision, even if you do not believe you were hurt. You could have suffered a hidden injury, such as a traumatic brain injury, back or spinal injury, or internal bleeding, and not realize it for days or longer after your crash.
However, getting immediate medical care for your injuries is not enough. You need to follow your physician’s advice and receive the medical treatments they recommend. This is important for two reasons. First, you protect your health and increase the likelihood that you will recover as much as you can from the injuries you suffered.
In addition, following your doctor’s orders will help strengthen your claim for compensation. When you file your claim, the insurance company will investigate the cause of your car accident and the seriousness of your injuries. If you do not get the medical treatments you need, the insurance adjuster could argue that your injuries are not that serious or that you made them worse by not doing what your physician advised.
Take These Steps to Ensure That You Are Following Your Treatment Plan
There are a number of steps involved in adhering to your doctor’s advice. You should do the following:
- Take your medications. You need to take all the medicines prescribed by your doctor. If you cannot afford your prescriptions discuss it with the doctor. Your care provider may be able to give you a prescription for a less expensive alternative.
- Go to all your appointments. You should go to all of your appointments with your doctor and any specialists. If you have gaps in your medical care or miss appointments, you could slow your recovery and give the insurance company ammunition to dispute your claim.
- Attend therapy sessions. You also need to go to all physical, occupational, and other types of therapy sessions that your doctor includes in your treatment plan. Make sure that you do any exercises at home that your therapist recommends.
- Refrain from activities. You should not engage in any activities, such as exercising, working, or engaging in other strenuous activities, without your doctor’s permission. This can prevent your injury from getting worse. In addition, the insurance company would investigate all aspects of your life—including the activities you are doing—while your claim is being settled.
Do you need to file a claim for compensation with the negligent driver’s insurance company? Call our Norfolk office to schedule a free consultation with our experienced car accident lawyers to learn how we will fight for the compensation you deserve for your injuries.
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