What Factors Influence the Value of Your Accident Claim?

In addition to your medical bills and wage loss, if employed, your pain and suffering resulting from an accident is a major element of your claim.  The pain and suffering value is essentially determined by injuries, type of treatment, with whom you treat, length and consistency of treatment and any pre-existing conditions.  In other words, what is documented in your chart notes.

You should return to each of your doctors/medical providers as often as necessary, and you should always tell them about all of your complaints.  Do not minimize your ailments to your doctors/medical providers.  They must know these things in order to properly treat you.

As stated previously, the value of your claim ultimately depends on your doctors/medical providers’ chart notes.  If you do not tell them about your injuries, they will not be able to write a complete report, which may be detrimental to your claim.  Additionally, you need to be honest with the doctor/medical provider if you have had a prior injury to the same part(s) of your body that were injured in this accident.

Another thing to remember is to avoid using the words “I can’t.”  “Can’t means physical impossibility.  You should always say to yourself, or your doctors/medical providers:  “I am trying and will continue to try more things.”  In activities such as housework, hobbies, yard work, and work at the office or factory, you should detail what things you are able to do and what things are more difficult.