Serious accidents often lead to serious injuries.
A variety of factors determine the severity of an injury. These factors can, in turn, influence the course and length of your recovery. If you have sustained a fracture, a broken bone, or damage to a joint, there is a good chance treatment will entail more than a one-and-done visit to the emergency room. You may even have to sit down for a consultation with an orthopedic surgeon or other medical specialist.
Orthopedic Doctors And Your Personal Injury Claim
An orthopedic doctor is a physician who has received specialized training in the diagnosis and treatment of conditions involving the musculoskeletal system. Most orthopedic doctors are highly experienced professionals: they have gone to college and medical school, completed a five- to six-year-long surgical residency, and may have spent even more time honing their skills in a fellowship.
Orthopedic doctors typically treat disorders affecting your:
- Bones;
- Cartilage;
- Joints;
- Ligaments;
- Muscle;
- Nerves; and
- Tendons.
What sets orthopedic doctors apart from doctors in similar fields, like rheumatologists, is that they focus more on physical injuries than on chronic disease and have the training and expertise to perform surgery when needed.
Orthopedic Surgeons As Personal Injury Doctors
A personal injury doctor is any doctor who treats traumatic injuries resulting from accidents.
Any physician, not just orthopedic surgeons, could be considered a personal injury doctor if they meet specific criteria. Aside from providing treatment and guiding you through the healing process, a personal injury doctor will typically:
- Ensure that they provide clear, concise, and unambiguous records that describe the nature and severity of your injury;
- Generate reports and summaries that make sense to you but also meet the requirements of insurance companies and courts; and
- Coordinate with your personal injury lawyer to answer unresolved questions about the severity of your injury and how the accident is likely to impact your life moving forward.
Most accredited physicians can provide these documents, but some doctors and practices have more experience working with accident victims than others. Orthopedic surgeons who market themselves as personal injury doctors are often more willing and better equipped to offer relevant referrals. They can also coordinate comprehensive care with other providers, such as your chiropractor or a physical rehabilitation clinic.
The Importance Of Continuing Care And Rock-Solid Documentation
If you have been injured in an accident that was not your fault, you could be entitled to file a personal injury lawsuit against the person who caused your injuries. However, whether the at-fault party is a private individual or a household-name corporation, defendants also have a right to advocate their own interests in court. Even if you have a strong case and know that you can prove the defendant’s fault, establishing liability is only one step in filing, fighting, and winning a claim.
In New York, one of the most common defenses to otherwise strong personal injury claims is the “failure to mitigate damages” defense. This argument may sound complex, but it is actually fairly straightforward: if you know that you have an injury, you are expected to do everything you can to treat it. If you do not, the defendant may not be liable for any further injuries or complications you suffer as a result.
You may feel like you are in a tight spot when it comes to choosing the right provider, but you could have more options than you think. Call Jed Dietrich, Esq., today at 1-866-529-5334 to speak to a personal injury lawyer and find out how we could help obtain the care that you need and the justice that you deserve.