Discussing Your Car Crash Injuries with a Doctor

Posted on behalf of TSR Injury Law
on August 13, 2021 in Auto Accidents

One of the most important things to do after being injured in a car crash is to seek medical care. You do not want your injuries to get worse because of a delay in treatment. The sooner you start getting treated, the sooner you can complete your recovery.

It is important to be thorough when talking to doctors about your injuries, not only to optimize the care you receive, but also for the strength of your case. Omitting information could give the insurance company room to dispute your credibility and lower the value of your claim.

Below, our experienced Minneapolis auto accident attorneys talk about what crash victims should discuss with their doctors. If you have more questions about what to do after being injured in a crash, TSR Injury Law is here to help. Give us a call to schedule your free consultation.

Discussing the Crash with Doctors

Make sure to tell the doctor how you were injured. The doctor will probably have many questions about how the crash occurred. Having answers to these questions helps your doctor with properly diagnosing and treating your injuries. Do not exaggerate about the crash. Saying you “were hit at 60 mph” does not help when you truly don’t know and only gives the insurance company room to doubt you. Keep the explanation simple on how the crash happened. It is not actually relevant to the medical treatment. “I was rear-ended” or “I was going straight on a green and another car ran a red light” is sufficient.

Tell the doctor what you remember about the crash, particularly where your vehicle got hit and if any parts of your body hit things inside the vehicle, like the steering wheel, dashboard, window, gear shift, or anything else. Medical treatment may be affected by crash facts by explaining “my left shoulder hit the side door when I was t-boned” as an example.

You want to give the doctor as much information as possible so he or she can determine where and how you may have been injured.

Explaining Your Injuries

Tell the doctor where it hurts and how severe the pain is, even if you think the pain is minor. Describe the pain as well. For example, is it an ache, burning or stabbing pain?

Inform the doctor of other symptoms you are experiencing, such as limited mobility, nausea, dizziness, confusion, headaches, numbness, irritability, behavioral changes, etc. Radiating pain or numbness into your arms/hands or your buttocks and legs are extremely important to mention. These symptoms could indicate an injury you are unaware of, such as an internal injury, nerve damage or brain injury.

Make sure to inform the doctor about any injuries you had before the crash. If you never treated for an injury, it is not as important as injuries or pains you have treated for before the crash. Your doctor can determine if you aggravated an existing injury and help to differentiate between your new injuries and the old injury.

If you are concerned that revealing a preexisting injury may hurt your claim, you need to know that you can still seek compensation. The insurance company may try to use your existing injury to devalue your claim, but an experienced attorney should know how to counter any arguments. That is one of the reasons hiring a licensed attorney is so important after being injured in a crash.

Your pre-existing medical issues may have made you more likely to suffer an injury in the crash, but that cannot be used to devalue your claim or bar you from seeking compensation.

Continuing Your Treatment

The discussion about your injuries should continue after your first meeting with a doctor. When you return for a follow-up or visit other doctors, keep them updated on how you are feeling and describe any changes in your symptoms. This information will be noted in your medical records – consistent updates on your condition shows you are receiving treatment and trying to get better. These records also reiterate your injuries, which helps to validate your claim. Complaining that your neck hurts to your spouse is not the same thing as reporting it to your doctor. Doctors create medical records and bills and that is what insurance companies need to review.

It is important to follow the doctor’s orders about managing your injuries. For example, if the doctor tells you to avoid certain physical activities, make sure to avoid them. If you disobey the doctor, you could hurt yourself more and prolong your treatment and recovery. It could also work against your claim. The insurance company could say you are ignoring your doctor’s orders because your injuries are not as bad as you said.

You may need to reschedule some appointments for a variety of reasons. That is OK, if you have a good reason, and you attend the rescheduled appointment. Keep your lawyer informed as well. The insurance company may try to use rescheduled appointments against you, claiming you are not really hurt.

What if I Have Questions or Concerns About Treatment?

There are times patients are concerned about taking medications or undergoing a particular treatment. It is important to discuss these concerns with your doctor. He or she should be able to answer your questions about medication side effects, the pros and cons of surgery or another medical intervention.

Maybe you have used a medication before and suffered unpleasant side effects. If that is the case, inform your doctor and he or she may be able to prescribe something different.

If you are unsure about something a doctor is recommending, you may want to get a second opinion. Sometimes another doctor confirms what the first doctor said, and this can be reassuring to some people. If the other doctor has a different opinion, you at least have options to consider.

We Are Here to Help. Call to Learn More

Unsure how an attorney can assist you after a crash?

Learn how by calling TSR today to schedule your free legal consultation. Crash victims who hire attorneys often recover more compensation than crash victims who go it alone.

This is because attorneys are committed to recovering as much compensation as possible for the victim, unlike the insurance company that wants to pay out as little as possible.

TSR Injury Law has a proven track record – over $1 billion recovered for our clients.

We are ready to help. Call us at (612) TSR-TIME.

Could You Benefit from a Second Opinion About Your Crash-Related Injuries?

Posted on behalf of TSR Injury Law
on July 14, 2021 in Auto Accidents

You could greatly benefit from seeing another doctor to review your diagnosis and treatment plan. Even though the second doctor may concur with the first’s opinion, this should offer you some peace of mind.

Below, learn more about the potential benefits of seeking a second opinion about your crash-related injuries. You want to make sure all your injuries are being treated appropriately so you have the best chance to make the best physical and legal recoveries possible.

You also want to be able to include all your medical costs in your claim for compensation. You do not want treatment expenses to be left out of your claim, meaning you must pay them out of your own pocket. Another doctor may recommend another treatment the first doctor did not, potentially improving your recovery.

Reasons You Might Want a Second Opinion

Crash victims often seek additional treatment after the emergency room when they notice new or worsening symptoms a few days after the crash. This is not necessarily a second opinion. It is more akin to simply getting more treatment outside the emergency room setting which is usually one stop. Once a continuing treatment plan is chosen, such as chiropractic or physical therapy treatment, it is common to seek a second opinion if the pain plateaus or gets worse. Medical doctors, pain management specialists, neurologists or surgeons are all viable options to make sure your treatment plan is working for you.

Another common reason for seeking a second opinion is concern the doctor is not doing enough or is taking the wrong approach. For example, maybe you think the doctor could do more to reduce your level of pain. Maybe you have heard about alternative treatments, or you know someone else who had a similar injury and was treated differently.

It is very important to trust your doctor and the treatments he or she is recommending. If you do not trust your doctor, you may be less likely to continue treatment, which could hurt your chances of recovering fully both physically and legally

When a doctor recommends surgery, you should carefully weigh the pros and cons of the procedure. Make sure to get answers to your questions and if you are still uncertain about the surgery, getting another opinion may be a good idea. The second doctor may agree with the first doctor, and that should help reassure you that surgery is a good option.

However, the other doctor may disagree with the first. If this happens, you have a lot to think about. The important thing is that you make a well-informed decision that you feel comfortable with, but you should be naïve and fail to understand the insurance company’s view of your injury if your own doctors cannot agree.

If the first doctor you saw is a general practitioner, or is not board-certified, it may be wise to seek an opinion from another doctor whose sole focus or accreditation is on the injured area of your body.

Another reason for seeking a second opinion is if your treatment seems to be progressing poorly. If you have talked to the doctor about it and you do not feel like he or she is listening or making changes to your treatment, a second opinion may be warranted.

Your health is your top priority after a crash, and if you think a second opinion would help, you should give it some serious thought.

If you are concerned about how this may affect your claim for compensation, give your attorney a call and ask. At TSR Injury Law, we are committed to answering your questions promptly and returning your calls.

When Might Insurance Companies Request a Second Opinion?

You seeking a second medical opinion is very different than the insurance company seeking one. The insurance company will be looking for some way to deny your claim or pay less than its full value. One option may be to request an “independent medical exam” better known as an “adverse exam”.

It is important to discuss a request for an independent medical exam with your attorney. He or she can advise you on whether you are required to go through with it and help prepare you for it. Your lawyer’s advice may help you protect the value of your claim during the exam. There is nothing independent about an insurance exam. Your attorney will cover the rules of what you are required to do and what are oversteps by the insurance company. The attorney will also be able to overturn the exam’s results and make sure your bills get paid.

Need Help After a Collision? Call Today with Your Questions

Our licensed Bloomington vehicle collision lawyers at TSR Injury Law have been assisting crash victims for decades, and we have a record of getting results for our clients. If you were injured in a collision and have questions about your claim, give us a call as soon as possible.

Our firm takes car crash cases on contingency, which means no upfront fees or obligations. We are not paid unless our clients get paid. That means there is no risk in contacting us to discuss what happened and learn how we may be able to help you during this difficult time.

We are ready to take your call. Ph: (612) TSR-TIME.

Will Your Injury Claim Be Worth More if You Need Surgery?

Posted on behalf of TSR Injury Law
on May 27, 2021 in Personal Injury

Surgeries can be very expensive, particularly if you need to stay at the hospital while you recover. However, it is not always true that getting surgery will increase the value of your settlement.

Although a surgery after a crash usually does make the “value” of a claim greater, injury victims should not get unnecessary surgery simply to increase the value of their claims. In fact, unnecessary surgery may not be covered by your claim. There is no amount of money that will make an unnecessary surgery worth it in a settlement.

If you have questions about the value of your claim, give TSR Injury Law a call today to see how we may be able to assist you. An initial consultation is free and there are no fees while we work on your case.

Our attorneys have secured hundreds of millions in compensation on behalf of our clients in a wide variety of cases.

Call today for legal assistance. Phone: (612) TSR-TIME.

Surgery and Your Injury Claim

Surgery often drives up the value of a personal injury claim. If you have ever had surgery and been billed for it or looked at the amount of money your insurance company paid for a surgery you underwent, it is easy to see why. Insurance companies owe the cost of medical bills as part of the injury settlement. In addition, surgeries are not fun, and neither is the recovery. Pain and suffering claims are greater because of a person’s surgery as part of a claim.

The total cost of a surgery has many components. The surgeon is not the only one who gets paid. There will be an anesthesiologist or other specialists involved in the procedure. They may not have been performing the actual surgery but assisting the surgeon to secure the best outcome. A simple example is the doctor observing your vital signs or reactions to medications you were given.

Doctors often need to use expensive equipment and supplies during the surgery. Hospitals often spend what seem to be unreasonable amounts of money on items that would cost much less if you bought them in a store.

These factors and others help drive up the cost of surgery, in addition to hospital stays that may come before or after the procedure itself.

However, there are many other factors that may impact the value of your claim. For example, some people respond better to treatment than others. Some people may recover very quickly while others may need significantly more time.

While you may have the same type of injury as someone else, it is unlikely that it is exactly the same. There are likely to be minor differences that could significantly impact your recovery and treatment options.

Is Surgery Necessary?

You should not get surgery simply because you think it will allow your lawyer to recover more compensation.

No matter how skilled a surgeon may be, every surgery carries risks. You could get an infection and need more surgery to deal with it. The surgeon could cause damage to the area surrounding the surgical site. You could have a bad reaction to the anesthesia. There is also even a risk of death.

If the insurance company believes the surgery was unnecessary, they may deny compensation for it. They are not going to take you at your word the surgery was necessary. They will want to see medical records showing the doctor thought it was a good idea.

Doctors often give patients a choice between surgery and other treatments. Your doctor may lay out both options and explain the pros and cons and leave it to you to decide.

You should carefully review things with your doctor and discuss the risks of surgery with your family. Your decision should be based on what you think is best for your health, not what it may do for the value of your claim. If you decline surgery but need other less invasive treatment, those bills are also included in your claim.

Your goal should be to recover compensation for the treatment you need to make the best recovery possible. That is why it is important to find an experienced attorney with a proven track record of success. You need to be able to trust your lawyer is looking out for your best interests and is pursuing maximum compensation.

Injuries That May Need Surgery

There are various injuries that may result in surgery, such as:

Damage to internal organs
Severe burns
Ligament tears
Traumatic brain injuries

Spinal cord injuries
Broken bones
Torn tendons
Knee injuries

Sometimes surgery is done right after the accident to try to save the victim’s life. Clearly, those types are always related to the originating cause, such as a car crash. Other times surgery may be needed later after conservative measures have failed. As a general rule, the longer after the crash or injury causing event, the harder it is to prove it is related to the event.

Contact TSR Today to See How We Can Assist You

After an injury, it is important to get solid legal advice about your options, the value of your claim and other issues that often arise. You cannot count on the insurance company to take care of you, which is why you should give serious thought to calling a licensed Bloomington personal injury lawyer.

The attorneys at TSR Injury Law have been helping injury victims since 1998 and have obtained over $1 billion in compensation for our clients.

TSR Injury Law. No upfront fees. Call (612) TSR-TIME.

Mistakes That Could Hurt Your Chances of Recovering Car Crash Compensation

Posted on behalf of TSR Injury Law
on April 28, 2021 in Auto Accidents

Car crashes are traumatic, often unexpected events. Victims may have many questions and much uncertainty about what to do. Unfortunately, this could lead to many mistakes that may hurt your chances of recovering all the compensation you need.

It is important to learn more about some of these common mistakes so you can avoid them if you get into a crash.

If you have questions after a crash, give TSR Injury Law a call to schedule a free legal consultation with a licensed attorney. There are no upfront fees for our services, and our firm is dedicated to securing maximum compensation for Minnesota injury victims.

Admitting Fault

You may bear some amount of fault for what happened. However, you might be blameless – sometimes crash victims apologize or think they could have done more when that is inaccurate. It is important not to make quick judgments about the crash, particularly when you are talking to the insurance company. If you admit fault, they will use that against you to devalue your claim.

If you have concerns about your role in the crash or think it may have been partially your fault, contact TSR as soon as possible. A licensed Bloomington auto accident lawyer can discuss the situation with you.

Waiting to Get Treatment

It is best to get treatment immediately after the crash. It is difficult to know how severe your injuries may be, as pain is often masked by adrenaline.

If you wait, you risk allowing your injuries to become much worse. You could also hurt your chances of securing full compensation for your damages. The insurance company will use the gap between the crash and the start of treatment against you. By seeking treatment immediately, you help show you are taking the situation seriously, you are injured, and you are making an effort to get better.

Accepting the First Offer

Do not be surprised if the insurance company offers you a settlement soon after the crash. They are not doing this because they want to fairly compensate you. They are trying to get a release for as cheaply as possible. Insurance companies make a profit by collecting premiums and then not paying out. If they can convince you to settle for $10,000.00 when the claim is truly worth $30,000.00, they just saved $20,000.00 for profit.

If you receive a settlement offer, you should discuss it with a licensed attorney. Unlike the insurance company, an attorney is committed to your best interests.

It is also important to remember the first offer is not the only offer. Typically, the first offer is a baseline to negotiate from. If you accept the first offer, you cannot later ask for more compensation, even if your claim is truly worth more. This would potentially include waiving future medical coverage, wage loss reimbursement or compensation for pain and suffering in the past and for the rest of your life.

Waiting Too Long to Talk to a Lawyer

If you wait too long to discuss the situation with a lawyer there may be little a lawyer can do to help you. By waiting, you risk evidence disappearing (such as video and witness’s memories) by signing releases you may waive privacy rights we cannot regain, and you may miss the timeline to start a lawsuit. For example, there is a statute of limitations (sometimes as short as two years) from the date of the crash to file a lawsuit. It takes time to build a strong case, as lawyers need to investigate, gather evidence, write a demand letter, etc.

At our firm, the initial consultation is free and comes with no obligation to take legal action. The initial consultation is to determine if you may have a case and if you may need an attorney’s help. We get paid on a contingent basis, so our fee is the same if we get hired on day one or day 100. There is zero risk allowing TSR to investigate your case and help you earlier rather than later.

Posting About the Crash on Social Media

You can continue posting things to social media while pursuing compensation after a car crash. However, be careful not to post things about the crash or things that could be used to attack your credibility.

For example, posting pictures from your vacation is a bad idea. The insurance company may use these pictures to argue you are not really hurt. If you can go on vacation and enjoy yourself, how much pain can you really be in? Are you following the doctor’s orders about physical activity?

You may think it does not matter what you post on social media, but insurance companies often review a claimant’s social media accounts to find things that can be used against them. Even if you are using privacy settings, there may be ways around them. Make sure not to accept friend requests from people you do not know, as they may be insurance company representatives snooping for information.

Unsure if You Can Recover Compensation? Call Today

Our firm has a proven track record of securing compensation for crash victims. We have recovered tens of millions of dollars in compensation over more than 20 years serving Bloomington and the surrounding areas.

The initial consultation is free and comes with no obligation to hire our firm. We take cases on contingency, which means no upfront fees while working on your case.

Get the Legal Help You Need. Call (612) TSR-TIME.

Do I Have a Case if My Injury Symptoms were Delayed After the Crash?

Posted on behalf of TSR Injury Law
on April 9, 2021 in Auto Accidents

For some reason, injury victims tend to downplay their injuries. Maybe they do not want to deal with the inconvenience of seeking medical treatment and having a doctor tell them to limit physical activity. Maybe they think they are just a little sore and will recover within a few days or a week. Perhaps the millions of dollars insurance companies spend claiming everyone is suing each other makes you feel guilty for actually being hurt. Whatever the reason, many victims discover their injuries were much worse than they thought once they get treatment. This often raises important questions about your ability to seek compensation, since insurers frequently use delaying the start of medical treatment as an excuse to deny an injury claim.

The Bloomington auto accident lawyers have experience helping injury victims and may be able to help you recover the compensation you need, even if your injuries were delayed.

Below, learn more about seeking compensation for a delayed injury. TSR Injury Law offers a free legal consultation to discuss legal options following a crash injury.

Car Crash Injuries with Delayed Symptoms

There are some injuries that may leave you feeling a little sore at first. You may also experience headaches. Unfortunately, many crash victims think of these as minor symptoms and think they will likely heal on their own.

However, these kinds of symptoms could be signs of more serious injuries. Symptoms of these injuries are likely to get worse in the coming days and weeks.

Back Injuries

Back pain could be much more serious than you think. Pain could indicate damage to the spinal cord, a herniated disc or whiplash.

If you have back pain, watch for other symptoms, such as tingling in your legs. A neck injury could also cause tingling or zapping pain into your arms or hands. This may indicate a pinched nerve.

Other symptoms to watch for include:

Headaches
Trouble breathing

Losing your balance
Losing bladder or bowel control

Whiplash

If your head and neck were whipped forward or back during and after impact, the tendons in your neck and shoulders may have been stretched too far. While you may have some pain right away, it may not get bad until the next day or the next few days.

While whiplash sometimes heals on its own, it is important to seek treatment right away. This could help the injury heal faster and prevent other symptoms, which may include:

Ringing in the ears
Blurry vision
Trouble sleeping

Concussion/Traumatic Brain Injuries

Contrary to what some people may believe, you can suffer a concussion without being knocked out. You do not even need to hit your head on something to suffer a concussion. Simply being jolted around violently could cause the brain to slam against the inside of your skull. The term shaken baby syndrome is an unfortunate reality because of this exact phenomenon.

Potential symptoms of a concussion may include:

Headaches
Sensitivity to light or sounds

Mood swings
Disorientation or dizziness

Internal Bleeding

If you cannot see an injury, you may not think it exists. However, some injuries do not cause damage you can see. Crash victims may dismiss abdominal pain without realizing it may be a sign of internal bleeding. If you feel dizzy or faint you may have suffered internal bleeding. Sometimes internal bleeding causes large dark bruises.

Filing a Claim for a Delayed Injury

If you waited to seek treatment, you should strongly consider meeting with an attorney. The insurance company may claim your injury was caused by something other than the crash. You need an experienced attorney to build a strong case that may help you counter these claims.

It is also important to tell the doctor you see that you were in a car crash, and your symptoms started then and have become worse since. The doctor will note that in your medical records, which should help link the crash and your injuries.

You may be concerned the insurance company will review your medical history to discover preexisting medical conditions and blame your injury on one of these conditions. However, you do not automatically need to give them access to old medical records. If you are concerned about a preexisting injury affecting your claim, discuss it with your attorney, as it will be protected by attorney-client privilege.

You should also make sure to follow the doctor’s advice and continue your treatment. This helps to show the severity of your injuries and you are taking the situation seriously. Missing appointments and stopping treatment gives the insurance company something to use against you.

Need Help Filing a Claim? Call TSR Today

If you were in a car crash and suffered an injury diagnosed by a doctor, you should be able to seek compensation through an insurance claim. This is likely true even if you delayed seeking treatment after a crash.

However, in these situations, it is important to find an experienced attorney with a track record of success. You cannot rely on the insurance companies to treat you fairly after a crash. You need an experienced attorney with a history of negotiating with insurance companies and obtaining compensation.

There are no upfront fees, and the initial consultation is free of charge.

Give us a call today to learn more. (612) TSR-TIME

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