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How to Avoid 10 Mistakes in Dealing with Doctors After an Injury Part C

No matter how you suffered your injury, the treatment process can be long and frustrating. However, making the mistake of avoiding treatment or not dealing with the emotional injuries can damage your case. Learning the last three mistakes to avoid when dealing with doctors can assist you with difficult aspects of the treatment process.

8. Stopping Medical Treatment Too Soon or Not Going For Weeks at A Time

While no one wants to imagine that there injury is permanent, failing to continue to treat will not make it go away. Juries are people and it seems that everyone is a Monday Morning Quarterback. Therefore, the insurance company and jury will often believe that when a person stops seeking medical treatment that they are healed. They will tell themselves that "if I was still having problems, then I would have went to the doctor". While this is probably not true it is the way that humans deal with the risk we all face of sustained permanent injury. Likewise, significant gaps between treatments of say a month or more will be used against you suggesting that you healed from original injury and may have sustained a new one you have not disclosed. If you are still having problems, but your doctor has nothing more to offer so he/she tells you "you are released" or "come back as needed" this means that if your problems do not go away within a few weeks you need to get back to see your doctor. Your doctor may be able to refer you onto a specialist for additional treatment.

9. Failing to Keep Records

You need to keep business cards, bills and/or other records of every medical provider that you see. Your attorney will need this information in order to obtain your records. You should also keep copies of work excuses, restrictions, referrals and other orders given to you. If you need to take the work excuse to your employer, make sure that you also keep a copy which will help with your case later on.

10. Failing to Follow Recommendations for Treatment of Anxiety and/or Depression

Pain, limited activities and disability often cause anxiety and depression following an injury. Conditions like anxiety and depression are just as real as a medical condition that you can see on an x-ray like a broken leg. However, most people cannot overcome these conditions without appropriate medical care and treatment. You can be compensated for psychological conditions caused by your injury so it is important that you tell your doctors if you are having problems and seek appropriate treatment. Unless your mental health issues are properly diagnosed and treated it is unlikely that you will be compensated for them.

All 10 common mistakes are very important to understand so that you do not damage your case without knowing it. The attorneys at Walker, Billingsley and Bair work hard to educate and assist injured Iowans. If you or someone you know has been injured at work, in a car accident or another personal injury accident, our personal injury attorneys at Walker, Billingsley & Bair are here to help answer any questions you may be having regarding your injuries. If you would like to learn more about personal injury accidents in Iowa you can request a copy of our No Cost book that we offer to Iowans who have been injured in personal injury accidents, contact us, or call 1-641-792-3595 for your free no risk consultation.

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