Mistakes to Avoid/Frequently Asked Questions

Mistakes to Avoid if you feel pain or are injured during an Auto Accident

Remember Severe, or even minor accidents, can turn into lifelong pain!

The 6 Most Serious Mistakes You Can Make If You Have Just Been Injured Or Have Been In An Automobile Accident....

Mistake #1: Failing To Seek Immediate evaluation and treatment from a physician specialized to evaluate such injuries. Waiting too long after an accident can cause your acute condition to turn into a chronic problem.

Mistake #2: Only taking pain medications from the emergency room to mask an injury. Pain is your body's alarm bell telling you something is wrong. Pain medication is useful when coupled with proper medical management, physical therapy or chiropractic care.

Mistake #3: Not Treating the Cause of Your Pain after an Accident. In many cases you will not recover fully without the proper treatment plan and flare ups may become a common problem.

Mistake #4: Not consulting with a Licensed Physician who is qualified to treat injuries following an auto-accident or trauma. Many healthcare providers are not trained to deal with acute pain or trauma. They may tell you to take a pill and rest until it goes away.

Mistake #5: Not knowing your Auto Insurance usually covers your medical treatment 100% regardless if the accident is your fault or not your fault. Most people have med-pay coverage on their insurance that covers 100% of their treatment and they are not aware of it. This coverage may be used for any necessary treatment and will not cause your insurance rates to increase.

Mistake #6: Procrastinating After an Accident and hoping the pain will go away by itself.

Why procrastinate if you are in pain? Your pain may improve with time, but many injuries can result in scar tissue and cause other problems which may last for years or for the rest of your life. Our office a no risk complementary consultation with a doctor.

Call today (916) 481-7246 or request an appointment online (click here).

Six Mistakes you should avoid After a Car Accident when dealing with your insurance company.

Mistake 1.Saying you are not injured at the scene of the accident.
After an accident most people call the local police or highway patrol. Invariably you will be asked if you are injured. If it is not a severe injury you will likely say that you are not injured. Most car accident injuries are whiplash injuries, or soft tissue injuries which generally do not appear until several hours after the fact to several days after the fact. The best approach is to say that you do not know, but that you will go see a doctor. If you say no, the law enforcement officer will record your answer and it may be more difficult to access treatment later if your condition worsens.

Mistake No. 2. Avoid seeking immediate treatment if you have pain.
What this means is that if you suffer an injury following an accident, you should not procrastinate and do nothing. If you know you are injured or have reason to believe you are injured, go see a medical doctor right away. The reason to seek immediate medical attention is first to rule out any serious injuries and starting treatment sooner will allow healing to be much faster. Also insurance companies see a failure to act on your injury as minimizing the severity of your injury and level of pain. If you are hurt seek medical attention as soon as possible. Another problem with failure to act quickly is that if you take too the insurance carrier may view the injuries were caused by something else. If you wait three months to undergo medical treatment, who is to know what caused the injuries you complained off.

Mistake No. 3. Trusting the insurance adjuster and closing your claim.
If you suffered an injury related to your auto accident you are entitled to seek medical attention. Never let an adjustor talk you out of seeing a doctor.

Mistake No. 4. Not following your doctor's advice. Your doctor has your best interest in mind.
Follow the doctor’s directions to and be compliant to the treatment plan. Insurance companies view non-compliance to doctor’s orders as a sign that you are not as injured as you claim to be.

Mistake No. 5 Missing work following an auto-accident injury without a doctors note.
If you cannot return to your full duties at work or on a full time basis, don’t just miss work. You must have a doctor's order stating you need to refrain from your work activities, and your doctor must specify the number of days you are required to take off. Your employer will be more understanding if you have a physicians note. You may be entitled to recover your lost wages, so you need to keep your doctors notes for your records. If your injuries are more severe, your doctor can assist you in filing short term disability.

Mistake No. 6. Lying or exaggerating.
Sometimes personal injury claimants think they can gain more by lying. You should never try to mislead your doctor or insurance company it is unethical and a crime. If you had a pre-existing condition prior to your accident or previous injuries you should inform your doctor. If you have pain, but not related to your accident you can still seek treatment under your regular healthcare insurance coverage.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: Should I See An Attorney Before I see the Doctor?
  A: It is important to get checked out by the doctor first, that way the findings from your exam will allow you the information you need in order to decide if an attorney is necessary. You can hire an attorney at any time during your care.
  
  
• Q: What If My Car Sustained Only Minor Damage?
  A: Documented studies done by Charles Carroll, M.D., Paul McAtee, M.D. and Lee Riley, M.D. revealed that: "The amount of damage to the automobile bears little relation to the force applied to the cervical spine (neck) of the occupants." In other words, the damage to the passengers is not necessarily directly related to the damage to the vehicle.
  
  
• Q: If I Need Treatment For This Injury, will it be covered by insurance?
  A: Yes, in most cases medical treatment is covered 100%. Treatment is also available on lien basis so we will not ask for payment until your claim with the insurance company settles or you can use your healthcare insurance.
  
  
• Q: Are your doctors qualified to treat me?
  A: Our office has a wide range of specialist including Physicians, Pain Specialists, Physical Therapist, Chiropractors, and Massage Therapists all licensed in California and specializing in the treatment of injuries.

Call today for an appointment:
(916) 481-PAIN (7246)
Risk Free Initial Consultation with a Doctor
Or to Schedule Appointment (click here)
Receive a coupon for free bio-freeze or ice pack with initial visit.