A car accident can often be a traumatic and life-changing event, especially if you have suffered injuries in the collision. Taking an active role in your recovery, following your doctor’s orders, and following up regularly with your medical professionals are critical factors in ensuring that you get through your healing process as smoothly as possible.
Furthermore, communicating effectively with your doctor will help you define your injuries clearly, increasing your odds of recovering the full and fair compensation you deserve. Knowing which questions to ask your doctor after a car accident is one of the most effective ways to begin the road to a successful physical and financial recovery.
After being involved in an accident, you probably have a lot of concerns about various aspects of your life going forward. It’s difficult to know what exactly you should ask your doctor, but the following questions are an excellent place to start.
What Is the Full Extent of My Injury?
It is common for many people to want to avoid thinking about the extent of their physical problems after they have been in a serious accident. Nevertheless, you will be better off if you thoroughly understand your injuries than if you ignore their implications.
If your doctor starts explaining your injuries with medical jargon that you don’t understand, ask them to make things clearer for you by clarifying your condition in layman’s terms. Specifically, it will be helpful to know the answers to the following questions:
- What activities should I avoid now, and when can I start them again?
- How long do you anticipate it will take me to recover from my injury?
- Are there specific activities I should begin doing that can help me heal more effectively?
Getting the answers to these questions will help you know how to go about your day-to-day life as you start to recover. Additionally, you may find it helpful to obtain a second opinion. If you need some specific questions answered now, don’t hesitate to contact Veron Bice, LLC today.
What Specifically Caused My Injury?
While this question might seem unnecessary, it is important to have an in-depth medical opinion about what caused your injury so that your claim can be as strong as possible. Having a medical professional document as many details about your injury as possible will make it more likely that your personal injury attorney will be able to demonstrate the negligent party’s liability.
Even if your doctor is unable to provide you with a detailed determination about what occurred, or if they can’t do so right away, having as much specific information as you can from your medical professional will always be helpful.
What Future Health Concerns Might I Develop?
As important as it is to comprehend the full extent of your injuries and the limitations they place on your current physical activity, it is also vital that you understand how your condition will change in the future. Some injuries will only partially heal, if at all. Other injuries may lead to additional physical ailments as you get older, for example, spinal injuries.
For this reason, it is essential that you ask your doctor to provide you with a clear picture of the long-term health consequences of your accident injuries and that you do what you can now to address them. This may include learning about what future treatments, medications, or physical therapy you might need. This understanding will allow your personal injury lawyer to determine the true costs of your injuries.
Will I Be Able to Return to Work?
Your lawyer can help you secure a financial recovery for lost wages and the diminished earning capacity you may now have because of your accident. Doing so will be easier if your doctor’s professional opinion makes your work limitations as clearly as possible. Follow-up questions about your work situation include:
- Will I be able to perform the same job duties I did before the accident?
- To what extent will my medications affect my work?
- Will returning to work expose me to additional health risks?
Contact an Experienced Lake Charles Accident Lawyer Today
After an accident, taking an active role in your medical recovery can make a world of difference. Effective communication with your doctor can clarify the details of your injury and its implications for your health and your earning potential, making your case for compensation that much stronger.
If you need help asking your doctor the right questions, getting the medical documentation you need, or obtaining advice about your legal options, contact the experienced accident attorneys at Veron Bice, LLC today. Call us at 337-310-1600 to book your free consultation.
