Injuries from car accidents

[alzi]

I would think dr, not a Chiro.

Eta: sorry you are hurting but smart move on not settling!

[thinkofthesoldiers]

See a regular doc before chiro. Find a lawyer. Then see a chiro. Or go to the chiro while looking for a lawyer. Either way, get a lawyer. Makes the whole thing a million times easier. Should this happen in the future, always get checked out asap in case you have injuries you weren't aware of.

[angelaa73]

don't sign anything. this is gonna take a while.

[thinkofthesoldiers]

Urgent care is fine. I had an accident in a new city once. I went to the ER right after it happened (had more obvious injuries than you probably did) and that was fine for my lawyer and the insurance companies.

[open24hours]

I used to be opposed to running to a lawyer after a car accident, but they really do make things easier. They handle the dirty work for you. So go to a doctor, follow up with all treatment recommendations, and find a lawyer ASAP. Also, stop talking to the other party's insurance adjuster. You never know when they will twist your words to use them against you. Your lawyer should be the only one talking to the adjuster.

[nursewife]

Feb 5, 2013 22:26:54 GMT -5 angelaa73 said:

don't sign anything. this is gonna take a while.

This. Dh and I were in an accident and found having a lawyer was a huge help. See a doc ASAP, and they can advise you regarding seeing physio, chiro etc. keep all receipts and document anything related to the accident.

[suzyp]

Nama - I just emailed people in my office to see if they had any recommendations - we do defense work, but that means they know a lot of plaintiff attorneys. I will PM you if I get anything.

[RoxMonster]

I was rear ended really hard this summer too and had horrible whip lash/back/neck pain from it for awhile. I went to the ER immediately following the accident, but I know that wasn't an option for you. Then I followed up with my PCP and they had me get xrays (for some reason the ER did not).

I would go to your doc first, and definitely don't sign anything yet from their insurance. They tried to rush me into signing something and I refused for about a month to see how I would feel back at work (I was on summer vacation) and working out, etc. (I was actually rear-ended two days before we also left for vacation!) They wouldn't pay any of my medical bills until I signed the release, but I just explained the situation to my doc and the hospital (definitely let anyone you see know it was an accident, not your fault, and give them their insurance too, not just yours).

[statlerwaldorf]

You need to get into see someone asap.  The longer you go without treatment, the less likely the insurance company will pay out.  I would go to a GP and follow their recommendation.  It looks better on a claim instead of running directly to a chiropractor.  If you cannot get into a GP right away, I would go to the urgent care.  Document all time off work and keep documentation from your doctor if they take you off of work.  Do not sign anything right now.  You need to wait and see how bad your injuries are and what treatment options work for you since some can be significantly more expensive.  The insurance company is going to want to settle right away to avoid a large claim.  If your car has not been fixed, I would take pictures of it for your records.  If you have any visible injuries like bruises also take a picture of them.  Keep track of all medical bills and time taken off work for medical appointments.

When it comes to them paying out, basically the insurance company is not going to pay out more than what they would be awarded in court.  When a jury sees someone that waited a week or longer to get treatment, they start to doubt whether the injuries are real or fake.  If you break a bone, you can present the x-ray reports, but muscular injuries don't have as much concrete proof.  Make sure you follow your doctor's treatment plan.  If it is not working for you, you can work with your doctor to change your treatment plan, but don't just stop going.  If you stop treatment early, that is going to say to a jury that you are all healed.  Sometimes in physical therapy you can start to feel better, but if you stop going too early, you will regress your progress.

If you go to a lawyer, be aware that many of them receive kick backs to referring their clients to certain chiropractors.  I would go through your GP's referral.  I am not sure that you need a lawyer right now, but you might if they decide not to pay out.  Also be sure that you are 100% sure of what all bills the lawyer pays directly.

[Deleted]

GP, and you should get time off work compensated.

[Norticprincess]

When we were rear ended at a red light, it took 6-8 weeks for my neck to feel better. Didn't realize anything was wrong until hours after it happened.

Didn't end up turning anything into the inusrance company. There wasn't a police report because the cars were driveabe. I didn't know I was hurt until a few hours. I was young, dumb, and not the driver.

[statlerwaldorf]

<abbr>I wouldn't worry too much about it.  I was mostly concerned that if you call and can't get in until next week or later how that would look.  When I worked personal injury, people who sought treatment that day normally had higher payouts than those that waited.  I wouldn't get too many crap from adjusters for people who sought treatment within a week, but when you start approaching the 2 week mark they would start making ridiculously low offers.
</abbr>

[statlerwaldorf]

I would go to urgent care unless you can get into a gp right away. It's annoying because they are probably going to just tell you to follow up with a gp, but you need to have medical documentation of your injuries.

[Bonita]

I would definitely go to Urgent Care if you can't get into a GP (like Statler mentioned) - The ER told me to see my GP within 3-4 days following for further treatment, or go back to them if it got worse in that time. I had horrible injuries though, and I am just now to the point where I've stopped physical therapy and I am starting to feel better (it will be a year in a few more days).

Also, I would suggest talking to GP/Urgent Care about seeing an Orthopedist maybe if they think you need to - I went to a chiro after my accident, but I quickly realized that going to an Orthopedist and doing Physical Therapy was more helpful for me.

{{{hugs}}} So sorry about your accident, and I'm sad that you're feeling sore I hope they can fix you up, and you'll be back to feeling better quickly!