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What Are the Different Types of Medical Evaluations You May Undergo After a Car Accident Injury?
If you’ve been in a car accident, even if you don’t think you’ve been injured, it’s crucial to seek medical attention immediately. A thorough medical assessment can save your life if you sustained serious internal, head or spine injuries that aren’t immediately obvious after a car accident. A doctor’s assessment and diagnostic testing will also be vitally important evidence for your personal injury claim.
Whether you are taken to the emergency room after an accident or not, you should see a doctor as soon as possible. They’ll evaluate your condition and give you a series of diagnostic tests to determine the severity of your injury and a treatment plan.
Depending on the extent of your injury, you may undergo a CT scan or an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) instead of or in addition to an X-ray. CT scans help medical professionals see damage beyond your bone structure, including injuries affecting organs, blood vessels and soft tissue.
Unlike X-rays and CT scans, which utilize radiation to capture their images, MRIs use magnets to create a detailed, high-resolution image of your whole body’s structure. An MRI is also one of the most efficient tests for spinal damage because it can detect if the injury has caused damage to your brain.
How Can a Medical Evaluation Affect My Compensation?
Well-documented medical evaluations can provide strong evidence that can bolster your case, increasing the likelihood of a favorable settlement or trial verdict. These tests are invaluable in proving:
- Causation: Medical evaluations can help establish a direct link between the car accident and your injuries. This means documenting how the accident directly caused or exacerbated your medical conditions.
- Damages: The extent of your injuries and necessary medical treatment directly influences the amount of compensation you may receive. The worse the injury or disability, the more you’ll need to be reimbursed to cover medical bills, rehabilitation costs and ongoing care.
- Pain and Suffering: Medical evaluations can also be important evidence for establishing the level of physical and emotional pain you may be suffering, which can factor into your compensation, especially in cases of permanent disabilities. These tests can also help prove injury-related limitations that may prevent you from earning a living or performing the same activities you could prior to your accident.
- Prognosis: Assessments provide insight into your long-term prognosis, including a recommended treatment plan (surgeries, physical therapy and medications) and their projected costs.
Your attorney will reference your medical evaluations when assessing what damages you can claim, such as future medical costs and diminished earning capacity. The experienced attorneys at the Law Office of Rickard, Drew & Nix can help you analyze test results and use them to project current and future medical costs as well as the long-term ramifications of serious injuries on your lifestyle and future.
Can I Choose My Healthcare Provider?
Yes, you have the right to choose your own healthcare provider for evaluations. If you don’t have someone in mind, we can recommend healthcare providers who have experience documenting injuries for car accident claims.
Will the Medical Evaluation Be Covered by Insurance?
Yes. Most insurance policies cover the cost of evaluations and other medical expenses. However, the other party and even some insurance carriers may try to dispute the necessity of an X-ray or other type of test to minimize their own costs. The attorneys at The Law Office of Rickard, Drew & Nix will strive to ensure you are fully compensated for any diagnostic testing costs you incur in the aftermath of your accident.
Get the Medical Treatment You Need After a Car Accident Without Worrying About the Cost
At the Law Office of Rickard, Drew & Nix, we’ll develop a legal strategy to increase your chances of securing the ideal outcome for your claim. Our personal injury attorneys will aggressively pursue maximum compensation on your behalf, and we’re always ready to go to trial if necessary. We’ll also ensure you’re involved and informed every step of the way, so you never feel uncertain about your own case’s progress.
To receive a free case consultation, call (404) 588-1001 or message us today.
