Evaluating Personal Injury In Auto Accidents

Typical Personal Injuries Sustained From Auto Accidents

Personal injuries that you could be reimbursed for are:

• Pain and suffering.

• Medical expenses.

• Head injuries.

• Temporary injuries caused by the auto accident.

• Permanent injuries caused by the car accident.

Keep in mind you could also be reimbursed for costs related to your injuries, but not the actual injuries themselves, such as lost wages at work.

Consult a Doctor If You're Injured in a Car Accident

If you are in an auto accident, you and your doctor, your car insurance company’s claims adjuster, and possibly your personal injury attorney will be involved in evaluating your personal injury.

However, you and your doctor play the biggest roles.

After the accident, get a copy of the police report and visit a licensed physician. If the accident occurs in the town where you live and not while you are away from home on vacation, visit your personal physician.

Keep these tips in mind while you're with your doctor:

• Be sure to tell your physician that you were involved in an auto accident.

• Ask your physician to perform a complete examination on you.

• If you are experiencing head pain, ask to have an MRI conducted.

• Examine pre-existing injuries (e.g. ultrasounds, x-rays) to record whether or not the injuries were intensified due to the car accident. Your personal physician has your medical history, and his or her records can help you to establish that injuries related to the accident were not pre-existing, and whether any pre-existing conditions were made worse.

• Keep copies of all of your medical bills and examination results. Also keep records of the number of days that you miss from work due to injuries that you suffered during the auto accident.

Be advised that your car insurance company will likely only reimburse you for expenses at the average market rate. For example, if you visit a chiropractor or a foot specialist and your weekly bill is $150 but the average rate for a chiropractor or foot specialist in your area is $125 a week, your car insurance company will likely only reimburse you for $125 a week.

For this reason you might want to reach out to your auto insurance company and let an agent know the cost of ongoing care before you start to receive treatments. Of course, you can still go to the specialists of your choosing. You might simply have to pay costs your insurance company will not cover out of pocket.