Tips for Meeting With Your Doctor After a Car Accident

Tips for Meeting With Your Doctor After a Car Accident Date: Jul 16, 2022

Being in a car accident is a frightening experience, especially if you or your loved one sustains an injury. You have many questions going through your mind, including when to see your medical professional and what to say to your doctor after your car accident.

The Law Offices of Argionis & Associates has some advice to help you make the most of your post-accident visit.

How Long Do I Have to See a Doctor Following a Car Accident?

We recommend you schedule a doctor’s visit after a car accident as soon as possible.

Thanks to the adrenaline resulting from the incident, it can be easy to overlook an injury immediately following a crash. Symptoms may not appear for a few hours. Many experts and insurance companies agree that you should seek care no longer than 72 hours following your Chicago-area car accident.

Going to your doctor after a car accident is important for:

• Documenting your symptoms and injuries.
• Establishing a course of treatment and sticking to it to avoid medical care gaps.
• Understanding the scope and duration of your injuries and symptoms.
• Preventing aggravation of symptoms or injuries.

These steps can help you recover faster and preserve your legal rights, and they may factor into the amount of compensation you’re entitled to.

Consequences of Waiting for Treatment

Putting off treatment can have disadvantages beyond delaying your recovery. Waiting can also:

• Give the insurance company reason to dispute or deny your claim.
• Impact your ability to sue later.

Take Notes on Everything

Documentation can form an important part of your injury claim. Our compassionate team of experienced attorneys recommends you immediately start taking notes on things like:

• Your physical symptoms, including their intensity and how long they last.
• Treatment details, including the name of the physician you saw, when you saw them and what you talked about.
• Your mental well-being, including any adverse impact from the accident.

Questions to Ask Your Doctor

Make the most of your doctor visit by being prepared with a list of questions that can help you understand what you’re going through.

What Caused My Injuries?

It’s important to talk openly with your doctor about your past medical history. Doing so can allow them to provide more accurate diagnoses and treatment. It’s also crucial to be honest about the symptoms you’re currently experiencing so they can better understand your injuries and their causes.

When Can I Go Back to Work?

The Law Offices of Argionis & Associates team knows a car accident can strain your finances as medical costs add up quickly. Those lost wages can make an injured person feel like they have no choice but to go back to work. Returning to duty too soon — or not following any of your doctor’s advice — can prolong your recovery and impact your ability to collect compensation.

What Are My Injuries and What Does Recovery Look Like?

Once your doctor provides a diagnosis, they will likely also give a course of treatment. This visit is ideal for clarifying your understanding of your injuries, discussing treatment options and getting a time frame for recovery.

Focus on Your Health While We Protect Your Rights

If you or a loved one sustained injuries in a car accident, our team is here to help. The Chicago-area car accident attorneys at Argionis & Associates have decades of experience in personal injury and a history of getting results. Unless we win for you, there’s no fee, and no one will outwork us.

Schedule your free consultation today by calling us or filling out our online form.

George Argionis

George Argionis has over 20 years of experience in handling cases involving auto collisions, premises injuries, medical malpractice, product liability, construction-related and work-related injuries. He has dedicated his career to helping restore lives both emotionally and economically.