Attorneys
1. TELL YOUR DOCTOR “EVERYTHING” THAT HURTS: One of the most critical pieces of evidence is how you feel and how your injuries have affected your ability to function on a daily basis. Your doctor is required to keep accurate and detailed records of your medical history and care. The records include how you describe the way you were injured, your physical symptoms, your injuries, the doctor’s findings, and the treatment you have received or will be receiving. The insurance companies will base its offer to you on this crucial information. If you fail to tell the doctor everything that hurts, not only will it not be treated properly, but also no one will know about it. If you first begin to complain about some problem weeks or even months after you were hurt, the insurance company will claim that the problem was not from the accident and reduce their settlement offer to you.
2. CONTINUE TO TREAT, GAPS IN TREATMENT: Failing to see a physician regularly is considered evidence that you have fully recovered to the insurance company and eventually, perhaps to a judge or jury. While you should not go to the doctor every day, you need to see your doctors and tell them if you are still having problems. If your doctor says “follow-up as needed”, that means to come back in a few weeks if you are still having problems. If you do not follow-up, then in the eyes of the doctor, insurance company, and perhaps even a jury, you are no longer having problems and have made a full recovery.
3. FOLLOW YOUR DOCTOR’S ORDERS: If your doctor tells you to get therapy three days a week, but you only go once a week, you will damage your claim. The insurance company will say that “you could not have been truly injured, or you would have followed your doctor’s recommendations,” and will reduce their settlement offer to you.
