After getting into an accident, seeking medical attention should be your top priority. When you visit a healthcare professional, they will assess your injuries and will likely give recommendations for you to follow during recovery. In addition, they often order follow-up tests and exams to track your recovery and determine the extent of your injuries. Following your doctor’s orders after an accident is essential, both for the sake of your health and for your claim.
Here are some reasons why following medical advice is so important following an accident:
1. TAILORED RECOMMENDATIONS
A medical professional is qualified to give tailored recommendations to preserve, restore, and/or stabilize your health. After an accident, your doctor or other healthcare professionals you see can help you determine how best to heal. They will take your unique circumstances into account in order to give personalized and specific recommendations.
2. IMPROVED CHANCE OF LONG-TERM RECOVERY
Even if your injuries don’t seem serious at the time of the accident, some injuries can develop over time. If you don’t see a doctor and follow their advice, these issues can interfere with your recovery. Additionally, failing to follow instructions from your healthcare professionals can make injuries you already know about worse, even if you’ve gotten some treatment.
3. MEDICAL RECORDS
Records of your visits with your doctor, and your compliance with their recommendations, play a role in your personal injury claim. If you don’t follow your doctor’s orders for return visits, there will be less documentation of your injury and its progression.
4. ESSENTIAL FOR YOUR CLAIM
Failing to follow medical advice can cast doubt on other aspects of your personal injury claim. It makes it more difficult to determine which aspects of your injuries are due to the accident and which could have been resolved with proper medical care. The insurance company could also make the argument that if you didn’t seek consistent care and follow instructions, you must not have been badly injured.
ADDRESSING FINANCIAL CONCERNS
Given the importance of following medical advice after an accident, why do some patients not do so? One of the possible reasons is financial concerns, including not wanting to lose money from time off work or not wanting to pay for medical treatment.
Although these anxieties are valid and common, it’s important to keep in mind that your attorney can help you receive compensation for these damages. Many lawyers can also assist you in getting treatment on a lien, making it possible to follow doctor’s orders while minimizing financial distress.
PERSONAL INJURY LAWYERS IN TUCSON
If you’ve been injured in an accident, having a skilled attorney on your side can make it easier to navigate the complexities of your case. Our Tucson law firm can handle the legal aspects of your claim so you can focus on your physical recovery.
