Whether you suffered a minor or a serious injury in a car accident, your first priority is to always seek immediate medical attention and treatment as soon as possible. Not only does this protect your health, but seeing a doctor right away can also play an important role in strengthening your personal injury case. It is imperative to ask your doctor several questions about your injuries which will help the claims process.
The following are the important questions to ask your doctor after a car accident:
- What is the full extent of my injuries? Ask your doctor how serious your injuries are and what does that mean for your overall health. The more you understand the full extent of your injury, the more ready you will be to focus on the recovery process and avoid activities that can worsen your condition.
- What the future implications of my injuries? Some car accident injuries, such as spinal cord and traumatic brain injuries, can be debilitating and permanent, resulting in a lifetime of medical care and treatment. Ask your physician if you will likely suffer long-term consequences for your injury.
- How were your injuries caused? While it is obvious that the car accident is the cause of your injuries, you must have your doctor confirm the cause and provide a professional opinion of what happened. Did your head strike the steering wheel? Were you cut by glass shards? Having these answers in writing can help prevent insurance providers from believing your injuries were caused by something else.
- Can I return to work? In most cases, victims of car accidents need time away from work to recover. In addition, some symptoms of injuries, such as whiplash and concussions, do not appear until days or even weeks after the collision. This will also necessary to seek damages for lost wages and reduced earning potential.
- May I have copies of my medical records? Car accident claims often require documentation to prove the full extent of your injuries. You may need to submit a formal request to obtain these records.
If you suffered an injury in a car accident caused by a negligent driver in CA, contact our Sacramento personal injury lawyers at Smolich and Smolich today.