If you’ve been in an accident and are now involved in a personal injury case with a good accident attorney, you’ll likely be seeing the doctor several times in the coming months. Right now, the most important thing is ensuring you get the best care available so you can properly recover.
But, when it comes to your personal injury case, there are also a few others things you should know. Here are some of the top do’s and don’ts of visiting a doctor during a PI case:’
DO gather your records – If you’re referred to a specialist for your injuries, make sure they have access to your past medical records – both standard and any extra tests youve had done since the accident. Example: Instead of just your medical history, they’ll want access to any recent MRIs, x-rays, and other tests related to your injuries.
DO setup regular appointments – Don’t think that you can go to the doctor once and be done with it. Set up regular appointments so your doctor can monitor how you’re feeling and the progress youve made. Doing this will help them better determine how long it will take for you to fully recover.
DO ask questions – It’s important for both your health and your PI case that you know exactly what’s happening with your body and what injuries you’ve sustained. If you don’t understand something the doctor has said or a portion of your test results, don’t be afraid to ask!
DON’T miss anything – As your doctor asks you questions about your injuries, it’s very important you do your best to answer everything. They’ll usually ask questions like:
– Where, specifically, does it hurt?
– How long have you felt this way?
– How often do you have symptoms?
– What have you used to treat your symptoms thus far?
– Using a scale of 1 to 10, how much pain are you in?
DON’T skimp on record-taking – Keep records of every bill you receive including doctor’s visits, hospital stays, prescriptions, and physical therapy. The more evidence you have to back up your symptoms, the better. You should also keep track of how much work you miss (if any) as a result of your symptoms.
Don’t forget – now’s the time to be 100 percent honest with your doctor and tell he or she everything you’re experiencing. By getting the full picture, they’re able to better treat you and ensure you heal properly.
This article was provided by accidents.com. I think it provides good information for any person who suffers an injury at work.
Alex Berman is the founder of Michigan Workers Comp Lawyers. He’s been representing injured and disabled workers exclusively for more than 35 years. Alex has helped countless people obtain workers compensation benefits and never charges a fee to evaluate a case.
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