It's essential you see a doctor after you have been involved in an auto accident, even if you haven't sustained any visible injuries. Sometimes internal injuries don't manifest externally and/or take awhile to appear. However, during your appointment, you need to ask your healthcare provider these three questions to ensure he or she will be as helpful to your auto accident case as you need the person to be.
Have You Treated Vehicle Accident Patients Before?
This may seem like an odd question to ask a healthcare provider, but you may be surprised at the answer. Some medical professionals have little to no contact with vehicle accident patients and others outright refuse to treat people who have been involved in auto collisions. Thus, you need to make sure your healthcare provider has experience in this area and for a couple of important reasons.
First, physicians with experience treating accident victims will know how these collisions are likely to affect the body and can more easily catch injuries that may be overlooked by less experienced medical professionals. For instance, the signs of a concussion aren't always obvious and can be mistaken for other conditions. If the doctor knows you were in a vehicle accident, he or she will pay closer attention to your symptoms and/or put you under observation to catch issues that may develop later on.
Second, medical professionals who regularly handle auto accident victims will know the type of evidence the patients will need to submit to their insurance companies to get reimbursed. The doctor will manage your case with this in mind to ensure you have all the information you need to file a claim.
Of course, your doctor isn't required to have experience treating auto accident patients. If you doctor doesn't, consult with your attorney to learn about the things the medical professional should do to secure the evidence you need to help your case.
Are You Comfortable Handling Legal Matters?
A second question you need to ask your healthcare provider is whether he or she is comfortable being involved with legal matters. Most accident claims and lawsuits are settled out of court. However, a small percentage does go to trial. If that occurs, your doctor may be required to give a disposition or testify in court about your injuries.
Not all medical professionals are comfortable doing this, which is one reason why some healthcare providers refuse to treat auto accident victims. Additionally, even if your doctor doesn't mind getting involved with the legal side of your case, you need to make sure he or she would make a good witness. If the doctor has had previous legal problems (e.g. sued for malpractice), has been disciplined by the medical board, or even just doesn't seem like he or she would do well when cross-examined by the defendant's attorney, you may want to consider finding someone else to treat you.
Your attorney can be very helpful here. Since he or she handles auto accident cases on a regular basis, your lawyer can recommend a medical professional who will be an immense help in the courtroom if your case advances that far.
Do You Need a Letter of Protection?
A third issue you need to clarify is whether the doctor will need a letter of protection. This is essentially a document that guarantees the healthcare provider will receive payment for his or her services regardless of whether you win your case or not. Doctors typically work with health insurance companies. However, medical care for an auto accident patient is paid through a vehicle insurance provider, and this can make some healthcare professionals nervous they may not get paid if the car insurance company denies the claim or wins the lawsuit.
Therefore, it's not unusual for a doctor to ask for a letter of protection before treating you. If that's the case, let your attorney know. He or she will draft a letter for you to give to the doctor.
To discuss other issues you may have with your healthcare provider or for assistance pursuing compensation for an auto accident, contact an attorney.
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