Former Dallas Cowboys Football Alum, Michael Irvin, Explains the Importance of Receiving Medical Treatment and a Hiring a Personal Injury Attorney in a Personal Injury Case
Michael Irvin, aka “The Playmaker” was considered the greatest wide receiver of his time. However, his 11-year NFL career was brought to a halt when he suffered a spinal cord injury against the Philadelphia Eagles in 1999. Irvin had been tackled from behind and violently thrown to the ground head first, his spinal cord injury was severe enough to force him into immediate early retirement. After going to the doctor, he later learned that he had a genetic condition called spinal stenosis (a narrow spinal cord), that made him more susceptible to serious injury. If he took another blow to the neck or head, there was a chance that he could be paralyzed.
Getting medical treatment after an accident is the most important step toward getting your life back together and building a strong case. What you do after your injury occurs will set the tone for your legal outcome. In order to recover compensation for your injury, you need to paint an accurate picture of your damages. You will need doctors and other health care professionals to formulate a treatment plan and document your injuries.
Even if you are unsure about the extent of your injuries, you should still seek medical treatment right away. The sooner an accident victim in Texas obtains medical treatment, the better the outcome. It is recommended that you receive treatment within 24-hours of your injury. When you delay seeking treatment, insurance companies use this information to allege that you weren’t really injured. Following a doctor’s order is imperative not only for your health but also for the health of your case.
Being treated for an injury typically involves several trips to the doctor. Many times, scans and tests are required as well as follow up visits to keep track of your injuries and the progress you are making in your recovery. It is extremely important to keep up with these appointments in order to fully heal and to have a record of how serious the injury was. A gap in treatment could severely impact the outcome of your case.
There are two types of gaps in medical treatment. The first type of gap is between when the accident occurred and when you first started treating injuries from the accident. (For example, if you were in a car wreck, but did not seek medical help until a month later). The other type of gap involves seeing a doctor for your injuries and then failing to follow the treatment schedule prescribed by your doctor(s).
In personal injury cases, insurance adjusters are looking for ways to devalue your claim. They use gaps in medical treatment as evidence that your injuries may not be a severe as you are claiming. Accordingly, it is important to meet with your doctor regularly and keep track of your doctor visits, pain, and symptoms. For instance, what you think may just be back pain or whiplash, could, in fact, be evidence of a concussion.
Sometimes a gap in treatment is unavoidable. People get sick or have another time conflict that prevents them from making their appointments. If you are out of town, having surgery, or have any occasional unavoidable conflict, it is not the end of the world. Just make sure you are communicating anything gaps in treatment to your attorney so that they can document the reasoning behind the hiatus so it will not be used against you by the insurance company.
The main reason to avoid gaps in treatment is for your overall health and well-being. Some people will have to deal with injuries from their accident for the rest of their lives and the severity of this may lessen with treatment. It is in your best interest for your health and the outcome of your case to stick with the treatment plan your doctor suggests. At Thompson Law, we have a team of treatment paralegals who are dedicated to guiding you through the treatment stage of your case.
In any personal injury case, the first thing clients typically ask is “What is my case really worth?” The answer to this question varies widely depending on the “damages” that resulted from your auto accident, slip, and fall, or any other type of incident that involved the negligence of another party. It is your attorney’s duty to prove what your injuries have cost you monetarily, physically, and mentally.
At Thompson Law, we will take care of you! You may not think that your injuries are as severe as they are. You need to get checked out by a medical professional as soon as possible. Do not hesitate! Give us a call today a 844-30-8180. We will get you set up with a medical professional right away, even if you do not have health insurance.
Here, we know the best local doctors and the best local hospitals, and we will help our clients find the medical care they need whether it be a chiropractor, neurologist, emergency room, or whatever you might need. If you’re having trouble setting up medical care, lets us take care of you. We are available 24/7 365. No appointment is necessary during normal business hours. We have bilingual staff members available to assist our Spanish-speaking clients.
Thompson Law receives an attorney fee and you pay no legal fees as our client unless we pay you. Thompson Law has 350 years of combined experience in legal representation and has won over $1.8 billion dollars in cash settlements for our clients. We master the art of managing client cases with empathy, compassion, respect and, of course, prodigious skill. Contact us today for a free, risk-free consultation to discuss your accident and your options.
State law limits the time you have to file a claim after an auto accident. If you have been injured in an accident, call now to get the help you need.
