After experiencing a car accident, it is important to visit an orthopedic doctor who specializes in injuries sustained during a car crash. Not only will your insurance claim require you to visit a doctor, but they will also be able to help you understand your car accident injuries and develop an effective plan for recovery. If you’ve never been in a car accident before, you may not be sure what to discuss at your initial appointment with these providers. You want to make sure you leave the appointment with as much information as possible, so below is a guide to the questions you should always ask following a car accident.
1. What Injuries Do I Have?
This may seem obvious, but many people leave the doctor’s office without a good understanding of what is wrong. You may have a vague idea about where you were injured, but not why it occurred or what needs to happen to recover. Asking your doctor to go into detail about your whiplash injury or any sort of injury can help you to understand the details, which will help you take control of your own health. You may also need to share this information with insurance companies and lawyers, so a good understanding can be helpful.
In the future, many doctors will ask you about previous injuries and you will want to be able to cite anything that happened in your car accident. Some injuries can impact future issues and being able to communicate clearly will benefit you.
2. How Long Will I Be in Pain?
If you are in pain, this question likely came to mind, but it is important to have this discussion with your orthopedic doctor so that you are on the same page. Doctors cannot give you an exact date where your pain will end, but they can help you determine what steps need to be taken for recovery, and if any time is needed off work. These answers can influence your compensation and what you do in the days and weeks following your accident.
3. How Did I Sustain These Injuries?
For those who suffer a traumatic brain injury, this question can be helpful as they may not have a clear recollection of the events surrounding a car accident. While your doctor wasn’t there for the event, they’ll be able to share common causes of your injury and help you understand what may have occurred. In the absence of your memory, this may be used as part of a legal case to explain the sequence of your accident.
Similar to this, it can also be helpful to ask doctors if they can estimate WHEN your injuries occurred. This may help prove that any conditions you now have were not present before the accident and instead are recent.
4. What’s My Treatment Plan?
This is important information for you to have so that you can execute on this plan and recovery as quickly and safely as possible. In order to heal, you will need to comply with that plan in the interest of your own health. However, this is also important because a demonstrated investment in your own treatment can help your case and lead to better compensation for future medical bills.
Ask your doctor not only to explain the treatment plan to you, but also to write it out step by step so that you have documentation of your instructions.
5. What Are the Possible Outcomes?
In most cases, your prognosis will not be black and white, but orthopedic doctors who have seen many car accident victims will be able to lay out some possibilities for you. Not only can they tell you the best-case scenario, but what complications may arise and what a full recovery could look like. In cases where the injury will have future implications, understanding those will help determine how your attorney structures your case.
6. What Else Should I Do?
If your doctor isn’t sure about any aspect of your injury, they may refer you to a specialist. Many injuries will also necessitate imaging or even physical therapy, and your doctor should help you understand these next steps. Getting a specific diagnosis can help you make a better case about your injuries and demonstrate a larger burden placed on you by medical care. Any further steps your doctor advises should be explored and documented.
When you need answers, turn to AICA Orthopedics. Our team of car accident specialists can both diagnose and treat a range of issues, relying on years of expertise. You can visit AICA Orthopedics to work with orthopedic doctors, physical therapists, and radiologists who all share the common goal of your recovery. Call us today!
