What You Must Tell Both Your Doctor And Attorney About Your Car Accident Injuries
Posted on: 24 October 2022
When you are pursuing compensation for your injuries after a car accident, two critical professionals will likely be helping you: your doctor and your civil litigation attorney. For your case to be successful, it's essential to be honest with your attorney; what you say to your doctor can impact how your case is ultimately resolved.
Explain Your Medical History
Always be upfront about your medical history. Your doctor will then be able to determine what treatment options are best for you. They will also be able to better understand how your prior medical history affects your current accident-related injuries.
Being upfront will cause your claim to appear more credible. You might think that having a pre-existing condition might reduce your ability to win your case. However, under the eggshell doctrine, you are usually still entitled to compensation for your injuries even if the accident only exacerbated pre-existing injuries.
Help Them Understand the Pain and Suffering You Have Experienced
Make sure your doctor understands the amount of pain you are under. This will help them determine how severe your injuries are. Also, you might be entitled to compensation for the pain you experienced as a result of your car accident.
Keep a pain journal and record all of the pain you experience every day. You should also write down your daily struggles and explain how your injuries have impacted your life. Pain is subjective and everyone has a different pain tolerance. However, you will want to make sure that you can support your claims with evidence.
Talk with a Civil Litigation Attorney
Once you have fully discussed all of the ways that your accident has affected you and have gone through the necessary treatments, you then need to work together with a civil litigation attorney to build a case for why you should be entitled to compensation.
Calculate the Full Extent of Your Damages
An important part of a civil case is calculating the full extent of the damages you have suffered. You will only have one opportunity to settle your case. You will not be able to go back and ask for more money in the future.
Fortunately, an experienced attorney will help you calculate the damages you have suffered in a comprehensive way. They will make sure to include:
- Current medical expenses
- Future medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Lost future earning potential
- Pain and suffering
There are other types of damages that might be associated, such as loss of consortium. By accounting for all of your damages, you will then be able to maximize your compensation.
For more information, reach out to a civil litigation attorney near you.
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