When a personal injury victim brings forth a claim against a negligent party, the compensation for medical treatment and other expenses is included. It is common to seek chiropractic treatment as part of the medical care for certain personal injuries, especially car accident cases and sudden impact injuries. This blog post covers the extent of chiropractic expenses that can be recovered in a personal injury claim.
Proving Medical Expenses
When the defendant loses in a case, he usually must pay all of the plaintiff’s necessary medical expenses that are related to the accident. When a plaintiff proves his damages in a case, he will submit all of his medical and therapeutic expenses that are due because of the injury.
It is important to note that just because the plaintiff received medical treatment doesn’t mean the jury will assume it was necessary. It’s possible the jury may not compensate him for it. When receiving treatment from a chiropractor, is it very important to obtain the records, the specific symptoms, the treatment provided, and the cost incurred for each treatment. It must be laid out clearly. When records are seen as vague, it’s very possible the claim will be denied, and the plaintiff will have to pay for everything out of pocket.
Cases that are highly contested may require the plaintiff to hire an expert to testify on his behalf about the medical treatment that was provided. The defendant can also do the same to testify the contrary. Even if an expert is called upon to testify, it is still up to the jury to decide how much of the plaintiff’s chiropractic medical care was reasonably necessary. A judge can, however, modify the jury’s “award” if it doesn’t make sense.
Will My Car Accident Settlement Cover My Chiropractic Treatment?
Most personal injury cases settle before they go to trial, and in many cases that involve chiropractic treatment, the defendant’s insurance company will negotiate and pay the settlement or trial award. Plaintiffs will often have difficulty getting their chiropractic bills paid at trial, so insurance companies are usually reluctant to pay those same bills in a pre-trial settlement. If it is expected that the plaintiff will make a full recovery but has not done so yet, the case may not be ready for settlement until the treating chiropractor determines the plaintiff has made the maximum potential recovery.
In this type of situation, the plaintiff can accrue large chiropractic bills and face the uncertainty of whether or not they will ever be paid back. The attorney and the plaintiff will need to make the judgment call as to whether or not accepting a settlement that doesn’t cover all chiropractic costs is worth it.
Why Should You See A Chiropractor After Your Personal Injury?
After any personal injury, one of the first steps that should always be recommended is seeing a professional about any potential injuries. A chiropractor is just that. If you were involved in any sort of personal injury and feel the slightest difference in your back, see a chiropractor. It doesn’t matter how small that difference could be, the best thing for you to do is to ensure that it doesn’t become an even bigger one. Being able to come up with a treatment plan not only helps your case but it also helps make sure that you make a full recovery from whatever incident has taken place. Even if you feel fine, your health is something that should not be trifled with.
How Can Seeing A Chiropractor Help With My Personal Injury Case?
To receive the highest level of compensation possible for your case, seeing a professional like a chiropractor is a key evidence for you and your attorney. The burden of proof lessens significantly if there was a treatment plan in place in order to make sure that you make a full recovery.
This also helps make sure that all of your medical expenses will be paid. The incorporation of a professional into your case such as a chiropractor shows that the incident was serious enough to call for medical intervention. This also means a potential for lost wages because if you are unable to work, that’s income that you couldn’t receive. Medical documentation is proof to show that the incident was serious enough that your life could have been drastically altered by what happened in your case.
Consult A Philadelphia Personal Injury Attorney To Discuss Next Steps
Have you or a close loved one suffered permanent effects from a vehicle crash caused by a negligent driver? Fill out our online contact form so we can learn more. We can help determine what your best course of action will be depending on the circumstances of the accident.