In a personal injury case, continuing medical treatment is crucial, but sometimes challenging. We understand — healing can be a long, tedious process. And physical therapy and doctor’s appointments are expensive and don’t fit well into your already-packed schedule. Maybe you’re driving a long way to see a specialist. Or can’t afford the treatment if the settlement doesn’t provide enough compensation. If your injury has improved, you might decide to stop getting treatment and let it heal on its own.
But as difficult as it is, you’ve got to keep going. The more thorough and consistent your treatment, the better your chance of a full recovery and fair compensation.
Gaps in Treatment Can Devalue Your Compensation
For personal injury claims, insurance adjusters are usually trying to pay out as little money as possible. If they find a good reason, they can deny or devalue the compensation you would otherwise receive. A gap in medical treatment can give them this reason.
Let’s say you injured your hip when you slipped and fell because a building owner neglected to place appropriate signage. Your doctor prescribes physical therapy for three months, but you start feeling better after a month. You decide to stop physical therapy, so the insurance says your injury wasn’t as serious as you claim. You think maybe they’re right, until your hip starts hurting again and you decide to go back to physical therapy. But at that point, the insurance company will likely argue that the medical treatment isn’t necessary.
If you stop medical treatment early, the insurance company may also reduce your compensation for “pain and suffering.” The argument is if you’re not receiving further treatment, you must be fully recovered and not in pain. And, even if you haven’t returned to work yet, they may not provide additional wage compensation.
Gaps In Treatment Can Lead To Missed Injuries
A gap in treatment can result in a delayed diagnosis. Let’s say you were injured in a car accident and tore a ligament in your knee. Maybe it hurts, but you initially think it’s just bruised. You don’t want to take time or pay the expense to get the imaging done right now. But if you wait too long, the insurance company can argue that something else happened to cause the tear. Even if you need surgery to repair it, they may not accept your claim that the accident caused it.
Delaying your diagnosis can also make the injuries worse. A torn knee ligament might heal with proper restrictions and physical therapy. But if you don’t know it’s torn and wait too long to get a diagnosis, it could get worse. Surgery might be your only option by the time you find out what’s wrong. Ultimately, your recovery time will be longer and healing will be harder if you don’t get treatment right away.
What To Do If You Have Gaps In Your Injury Treatment
If you’re experiencing any pain after an accident, it’s important to see a physician. Internal soft tissue or nerve injuries are not immediately obvious but can cause long-term problems.
Even if you have a pre-existing injury or chronic condition, go see your physician after an accident. He or she can tell you whether the injury or condition was made worse by the accident. Insurance companies don’t like working with pre-existing conditions in personal injury cases, but that doesn’t mean you don’t deserve compensation. A good personal injury attorney can help you in a case like this.
It’s also important to stick with the same doctor during the entire course of your treatment. (The exception to this is if you feel you’re not getting the best treatment.) A doctor closer to you or less expensive may be convenient in the short term. But changing physicians can make it harder to get full compensation from the insurance company.
Sometimes you have to miss or delay treatment, but that doesn’t mean your case is doomed. If you get sick, go out of town, or have other legitimate reasons, document what you can. The important thing is to continue your treatment until your physician declares that you’ve recovered.
How We Can Help
If you or a family member isn’t being offered fair compensation after a personal injury, we want to help. We have lots of experience with personal injury cases and can help you get the full reimbursement you deserve. Book a free consultation with us today.