Seven Reasons You MUST Get Medical Care After an Accident

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We see a common mistake far too often: victims do not visit a doctor after their accidents.

Here’s a look at why getting proper (and continuous) medical care following any Atlanta personal injury accident is so important:

  • Immediate Medical Care Establishes a Link Between your Accident and your Injuries. By visiting a doctor right after the accident, you are documenting the immediate effect of the accident on your body. Medical care establishes a link between your injuries and the accident. If you wait too long after the accident to see a doctor, your claim that injuries resulted from the accident seem less credible. Even with legitimate injuries, the insurance company, medical lawyers for the other side, a judge, or jury can view the long gap between the accident and seeing a doctor as:
    • There is no correlation between the accident and injuries
    • The injuries resulted from another incident
    • You are making up the injuries
    • The injuries are from a preexisting condition
  • Your Doctor Has Credibility. Visiting your primary care physician or the emergency room after an accident creates credibility. That doctor is not getting paid to review your injuries; rather, they are legitimately treating your health after an accident. If your primary care physician is not available, visit the emergency room of a local hospital then follow up with your family doctor. This way, you have a record of the injuries resulting from an accident.
  • Follow-Up Appointments Document the Progress of Your Injuries. As accident victims start feeling better, they are tempted to skip their doctors’ appointments. However, stopping medical treatment too soon is a big mistake.
    Remember that your personal injury claim includes injuries that affect your life. Medical care appointments can confirm this. On the other hand, the insurance company, attorneys for the other side, a judge, or jury can claim that a victim ignoring recovery instructions or missing doctors’ appointments indicate that:

    • Your accident-related injuries are not affecting your life
    • You are not hurt to the extent that you claim to be
    • Medical care is not necessary because you were not hurt in the first place


    But you MUST be diligent about continuing doctors’ appointments, treatment plans, checkups, surgeries, rehabilitation, medication, and physical therapy. Continue to use special equipment prescribed by your medical care team.

  • Medical Records Form the Basis of Recovery. Medical records are a key piece of evidence in an accident when you are claiming injuries. Your doctor will keep records that show diagnosis, prognosis, and treatments. Since you are requesting compensation based on injuries from your accident, ideally, your recovery will be for:
    • Medical costs
    • Future medical costs
    • Pain and suffering

    The way to prove medical costs, future medical costs, and pain and suffering damages is through medical records. Medical records will also determine the type of disability you have from the accident and if long-term care will be needed.

    Proper medical care can help ensure that your medical records are substantial and reflect your health-related challenges from the accident.

  • Communication Creates Clear Medical Records. Since medical records reflect the effect of the accident (and therefore a large part of the compensation to which you are entitled), maintain good communication with your doctors and doctors’ offices. Keep these communication tips in mind:
    • If you select new doctors, consider whether they have good communication skills so they will listen to you and reflect discussions in your medical records.
    • Be honest about your injuries, discomfort, and preexisting conditions. Doctors will consider your past medical history as they make a diagnosis. Prior medical history will come up anyway when you have a personal injury claim, so hiding it will hurt you.
    • You will likely be asked the reason for your visit and what happened – in writing and/or conversation. Be careful about what you disclose. What you tell your healthcare provider is generally reflected in the medical records, and the opposing side will see the medical records. They may use what you say against you. For example, you may tell a doctor that “the other car was driving 40 miles per hour.” That can be used as evidence against you and hurt your case at trial.
    • Allow your healthcare professionals to focus on treating you, do not get them involved in the legal aspect of the accident.
    • Communicate clearly about the discomfort and limitations you are experiencing.
    • Be pleasant and maintain good relationships with everyone who provides medical treatment. Unfortunately, negative interactions are often reflected in medical records. Hostile interactions with physicians will make them unhelpful witnesses.
    • Make sure to go to every appointment on time. Being late or not showing to your appointments may cause your medical care professionals to think less favorably about you and, therefore, may not be helpful witnesses.
  • An Accurate Diagnosis Leads to the Best Treatment Plan for Your Injuries. Your diagnosis determines your treatment. Once a doctor makes the diagnosis, they will determine medical care treatment. Resist a course of action where you keep visiting different doctors looking for a diagnosis. That type of shopping around suggests that your injuries are not legitimate.
  • The Duration and Severity of your Treatment Affect Your Settlement. The more serious the injuries and the longer you need medical care, the higher the settlement. Therefore, work with your doctors to make legitimate referrals to specialists.

Call the Atlanta Personal Injury Attorneys at CEO Lawyer to Help Evaluate Your Medical Records and Your Case

The experienced car accident attorneys in Atlanta and throughout Georgia at the CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm know how to evaluate your medical records and your case to get you the best settlement possible. Do not wait to contact the CEO Lawyer team to discuss your medical treatment and accident.

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Frequently Asked Questions

After a personal injury, you're bound to have legal questions. The CEO Lawyer Ali Awad can provide you with answers to these questions, just as he's given answers to his millions of curious social media followers. Take a look at some of the most common personal injury law questions for general information, and then reach out to one of our seasoned attorneys for specific guidance on your case!

Contact us now (833) 254-2923.

Help Negotiating with Insurance Carriers

To quickly resolve matters following an accident, insurance companies will offer you less than you deserve in compensation for your injuries. Many victims feel pressured to accept these offers as the bills begin to pile up, but that is rarely a good idea. The insurance company is looking to protect its bottom line; and will offer injured victims less than they deserve. An experienced personal injury attorney understands how to negotiate with the insurance company and can look out for your best interests by getting you the compensation you deserve after an injury. If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident, it is important to avoid negotiating or providing recorded statements to the insurance company without first seeking help from a qualified personal injury attorney.

Do You Have a Personal Injury Case?

The best way to determine if you have a personal injury case is to speak with a knowledgeable attorney. Our legal professionals have the expertise to evaluate your case and determine a strong legal strategy so that you can obtain the greatest amount of compensation possible under the law. We will enlist investigators, assistants, and other specialists to collect accident reports, speak with witnesses to your accident, and put together a plan. While you focus on your physical recovery, we will remain committed to fighting for the compensation that you deserve.

Georgia's Personal Injury & Accident Firm

Accident victims have a limited time to file a personal injury lawsuit. This time period is referred to as the statute of limitations, and in Atlanta, it lasts only two years. This means that if you or a loved one has been injured in an accident, you have only two years to pursue a personal injury suit. If you wait too long to reach out to an experienced attorney, you might be forever barred from seeking the compensation you deserve.

What to Expect From Your Initial Consultation With a Personal Injury Attorney?

During your initial consultation with CEO Lawyer team, we will go over the important details of your personal injury accident, which include the nature and extent of your injuries, how your injuries have impacted your ability to earn a paycheck, the cost of your medical treatment, and whether further medical treatment will be required. We will answer any questions you might have, as well, in regards to our experience, our track record of success, and what to expect from the legal process. Many personal injury victims wonder if they will be able to afford the legal fees required to pursue a lawsuit. CEO Lawyer injury and accident attorneys will not ask for any type of upfront fee unless we are successful in obtaining compensation for you. That means that if you have been harmed in a motor vehicle accident, slip and fall accident, defective product accident, or any other type of personal injury accident, you can absolutely afford to contact our law office today for assistance. In fact, you cannot afford to wait. Reach out today. We understand that some accident victims might have already obtained the assistance of an attorney but may be dissatisfied with the services provided. We are standing by and prepared to help you change legal representation, regardless of where you are in the process.

Speak to an Experienced Personal Injury Attorney Today

If you or a loved one has been injured in any type of personal injury accident, you should not hesitate to speak with the experienced attorneys at CEO Lawyer personal injury law firm. Call, email, or fill out our online contact form today so that we can begin helping you pursue the compensation you deserve.