What Questions Should I Ask My Doctor after a Car Accident?

If you’ve been injured in a car accident, your treating doctor will likely be one of the most important resources if you choose to pursue a legal claim for compensation for your injuries and damages. Your doctor can provide you with information about your injuries that you can use to begin establishing your claim for damages. 

Questions you should be asking your doctor treating your injuries following a car accident include:

What Injuries Have I Suffered?

It is critical to understand the full extent of the injuries you’ve suffered in a car accident. You may not notice pain or other symptoms of physical injuries for days or even weeks following an accident. Knowing what injuries you’ve suffered will not only ensure that you receive all the treatment you need but also will allow you to begin putting together a personal injury case by calculating the full extent of your damages, including your future wage and earning capacity losses and your future medical treatment expenses.

Will My Injuries Cause Me Problems in the Future?

Some serious injuries never fully heal and may leave you with physical disabilities or disfigurements. While these may not fully incapacitate you, they can still have a noticeable impact on your quality of life, especially if permanent injuries cause you to feel embarrassment or if they keep you from participating in activities you previously enjoyed. In a personal injury claim, you are entitled to seek compensation for loss of enjoyment or quality of life caused by your injuries.

What Caused My Injuries?

Although your injuries were obviously caused by your car accident, it can also be important to understand the exact mechanism of each particular injury. For example, did you suffer a head injury because you hit a side pillar inside your vehicle, or because of the deployment of the airbag. Being able to explain what specifically caused each of your injuries can go a long way to increasing the value of your case, especially if the at-fault driver and his or her insurance company tries to claim that your injuries were pre-existing conditions (like a herniated or ruptured disc).

Can I Work?

Missed time from work is one of the most critical losses suffered from any car accident. You should not return to work until your doctor advises you that it is safe to do so; you should also be sure to ask your doctor about whether you should follow any duty restrictions, such as limits on time spent sitting or standing, or restrictions on the amount of weight you can lift. If your doctor recommends you take time off from work or that you should return to work with physical restrictions, you should get your doctor’s recommendation in writing to provide to your employer, who should work with you to accommodate your injuries. Your doctor’s recommendations and reports can also be used as evidence to substantiate the impact your injuries have had on your life.

Can I Obtain Copies of My Medical Records?

Any successful car accident claim will require you to produce copies of your medical records of your treatment of the injuries you suffered. Depending on your provider, you may be able to get a copy of your records simply by asking, or your provider may have forms to fill out in order to make a formal request for your records.

Contact a Perth Amboy Personal Injury Lawyer to Discuss Your Car Accident Case in New Jersey

Did you or a loved one sustain serious injuries due to a car accident in New Jersey? Don’t let the medical bills pile up while you wait for the negligent party or their insurance company to do the right thing. Right now, you need an aggressive personal injury attorney on your side, fighting to get you the compensation you need, want, and deserve. The skilled attorneys at CourtLaw represent clients injured because of car accidents in Clifton, Trenton, Camden, Passaic, and throughout New Jersey. Call (732) 442-5900 or fill out our online contact form to schedule a consultation about your case. We have an office conveniently located at 163 Market St., Perth Amboy, NJ 08861, as well as offices in New Brunswick, Roselle, East Orange, Jersey City, Elizabeth, Linden, Newark, Paterson, South Amboy, and Trenton.

The articles on this blog are for informative purposes only and are no substitute for legal advice or an attorney-client relationship. If you are seeking legal advice, please contact our law firm directly.