If you suffer catastrophic injuries in a car accident, it goes without saying that your immediate course of action should be to seek medical attention. What might not be obvious, however, is that the decisions you make during your visit with a doctor can affect your insurance claim as well as your health.
Certain actions you might make while seeing your doctor may seem harmless, but are likely to be mistakes that will prevent you from receiving the full compensation you deserve for your injuries. By familiarizing yourself with these mistakes, you can make the best decisions throughout your treatment.
Withholding information
Experts find that many patients lie, alter details or withhold information from their doctors regarding their accidents either out of embarrassment or guilt. Any act of withholding the full truth of your accident can affect the type of treatment you receive, which may result in a hindered recovery or lesser compensation from your injury claim.
Neglecting your personal records
It is in your best interests to keep thorough records of your doctor visits, including copies of any documentation, referrals or other interactions you receive during the course of your care. Neglecting to do so may leave you short on evidence if the insurance company attempts to deny your claim.
Stopping treatment prematurely
One of the biggest mistakes you can make after suffering an accident injury is stopping treatment before your physician clears you. Doing so may give the insurance company valid cause to deny you compensation on the basis that your injury was not as severe as you claimed.
It is an unfortunate truth that the road to recovery and compensation is often a rocky one. By following the proper steps along the way, though, you can at least recover the damages you deserve.