After being involved in a motor vehicle accident, one of the first things you should do is to seek medical attention as soon as possible. Although not all motor vehicle accident injuries do not warrant a trip to the hospital in the ambulance, you should not assume that you are uninjured just because you are not being whisked away by emergency medical staff. Many injuries do not result in any symptoms until hours, days, weeks, or even months later, at which point it will be difficult to pursue a personal injury claim. This means that you could end up having to deal with the burden of medical bills, lost wages, or even lost earning capacity for an accident that was not your fault.
Once you are at the doctor’s office, there are some important questions you should ask, which will help you from both legally and health-wise. We have compiled a list of questions you should ask your doctor after being involved in a motor vehicle accident:
- What are my injuries and how might they affect me? Knowing the severity and extent of your injuries is not only necessary for achieving a full recovery, but it is also important for your personal injury claim. You cannot begin to effectively negotiate a settlement with the insurance adjuster if you do not understand your injuries or the impact they might have on your overall health and wellbeing in the future. You should also remember not to skip any follow-up appointments. Doing so could have a negative impact on your case.
- Will my injury cause other health concerns in the future? In some cases, it is not possible for one to fully recover from an injury. Understanding the possibility of any lifelong effects is important since such injuries generally warrant greater compensation.
- What was the cause of my injuries? Yes, you were involved in a motor vehicle accident and that is what led to your injuries, but this question is more about understanding specifically what caused your injuries. Did you sustain a brain injury when you hit your head against the steering wheel? The doctor might not be able to answer this definitively, but he or she can still provide an expert opinion.
- Can I return to work? It is not uncommon for those who have been injured in motor vehicle accidents to be unable to return to work for quite some time. Even if you feel well enough to return to work, doing so can exacerbate your injury and harm your case. Ask your doctor when or if it might be safe to return to work and make sure it is written down, so you can file it amongst any other pertinent documents you have to support your claim.
- Can I have a copy of my medical record? To build a solid personal injury case, you are going to need to keep record of any important documents, including your medical records. Oftentimes, doctors will readily provide this, though in some cases, it might require a more formal request.
Experienced Personal Injury Attorneys in Arizona
If you or a loved one sustained injuries as a result of another party’s negligent or reckless actions, now is the time to take legal action to pursue fair and just compensation. At Rafi Law Group in Arizona, our skilled team of personal injury attorneys is dedicated to providing exceptional representation on behalf of those who have been wrongfully injured to ensure the responsible parties are held accountable.
Get started on your personal injury case today and reach out to our law firm at (623) 207-1555 to request your free initial case evaluation with one of our knowledgeable and compassionate attorneys.