How Gaps in Medical Treatment After An Auto Accident in Denver Could Affect Your Claim
After an auto accident in Denver, the at-fault party’s insurance company will review your medical records before placing a value on your claim. If an insurance adjuster spots gaps in your medical treatment, this could raise red flags and ultimately lower the value of your claim. Here’s why:
Gap Between the Accident and Initial Treatment
The first type of gap that the insurance adjuster may notice is a gap between the car accident and the first visit to the doctor. This occurs when you choose to seek medical attention a few days or weeks after the accident instead of going to a doctor immediately following the crash. If an insurance adjuster notices this type of gap, he may allege that your injuries were not sustained in the accident. The insurance adjuster will argue that if you were truly injured in the accident, you would have received medical attention right away instead of waiting. To the insurance adjuster, the gap in treatment shows that you were injured in another way and want to blame it on the accident in order to recover compensation.
This type of gap could also indicate that you were not seriously injured in the accident and only went to a doctor because you realized there was an opportunity to recover compensation. Even if this isn’t true, it gives the insurance adjuster a reason to lower the value of your claim. Learn more about the gap in treatment and how it can affect your case.
Gap Between Doctor Visits
Insurance adjusters will also look for significant gaps that occur in between doctor visits. The insurance adjuster could use this type of gap to argue that you must not have been in any pain or you would have returned to the doctor sooner.
This type of gap will also hurt your case if it can be used to prove that you did not follow a doctor’s orders. For example, let’s say the medical records show that your doctor asked you to return for a follow-up visit within two weeks. If you did not return until two months later, the insurance adjuster will argue that you purposely ignored the doctor’s orders, which could have made your injuries worse.
Be sure to speak up if there is a reason why you waited to return to the doctor’s office. If you lost a loved one or went out of town to visit family, this needs to be mentioned to the insurance adjuster. Or if you were sick for several weeks with the flu, the insurance adjuster will understand why you pushed back a scheduled procedure. A gap between doctor visits may not affect your case if you are able to prove why it occurred.
If you have been injured in a car accident, don’t hesitate to seek legal representation from an experienced personal injury attorney. Mark A. Simon will work tirelessly to ensure you receive the compensation that you deserve. Call us or contact Mark A. Simon to discuss your legal options during a free consultation.