The Intersection of Law and Medicine: How Car Accident Attorneys Work With Medical Experts
If you are represented by a car accident lawyer, they can collaborate with medical experts to help you track your injuries and treatment plan. They can also consult a variety of medical experts who can provide statements and testimonials that benefit your case and your compensation request.
This is the intersection of law and medicine—how car accident lawyers collaborate with medical experts to optimize your case. This collaboration helps your legal team document the current value of your physical and mental healthcare needs. It also helps them accurately determine the cost of the medical care you will require after your case is resolved. This step helps you avoid an insufficient settlement and potential financial hardship later.
Types of Medical Experts Your Lawyer May Consult During Your Car Accident Case
The role of your legal team is to thoroughly investigate your accident and build the strongest possible case for you. The personal injury attorney who handles your case will consult a variety of medical experts based on your specific injuries.
A medical expert witness can testify on your behalf in more ways than one, including reviewing your injuries and documenting the importance of medical records for a car accident case. Relevant expert medical witnesses can include:
- Physicians and specialists
- Medical and cosmetic surgeons
- Nurses and medical support staff
- Physical, speech, and occupational therapists
- In-home medical support staff
First responders who provide emergency and stabilizing medical care at the accident scene can also provide beneficial testimony. Their records and reports will be included in your evidence collection since they tell the initial story of your injuries.
How Medical Experts Work in Partnership With Lawyers in Car Accident Cases
When your legal team hires experts to substantiate your case, they will help them prepare for court cases and depositions. The experts your lawyer consults with can provide valuable medical evidence in legal cases, including:
- Detailed and extensive medical, therapy, and rehab records and bills
- Photos of your injuries at their onset and throughout your recovery
- A written prognosis that details the care you will require in the future and their anticipated costs
- Laboratory test results, imaging test results, and mental healthcare analysis reports
If you refused medical attention at the accident scene and discovered injuries later, you can still seek fair compensation. The role of medical experts in your car accident case can also include explaining how long after a car accident injuries can appear. This is critical in cases where you experienced a delayed onset of symptoms.
Treating Your Injuries Can Determine the Value of Your Car Accident Case
A key role of your car accident attorney is to negotiate a monetary settlement on your behalf. They, along with medical experts, are an important part of negotiation in law and medicine. They can also help you seek financial recovery for the following medical expenses:
- Emergency room treatment
- Hospital admissions
- Assistive medical devices
- Treatment-related travel costs
- Surgical procedures
- OTC and prescription drugs
- Physical therapy
According to Cleveland Clinic research, the stress and trauma of a car accident can lead to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It can also stem from catastrophic and physically disfiguring injuries. Post-accident medical care can also include mental health care experts who help you cope with anxiety after a car accident.
Your legal-medical collaboration team can help you avoid having your case undervalued or underpaid. They can also build a compelling case file, including medical records and bills.
Additional Recoverable Damages Car Accident Lawyers Will Request for Injury Victims
Medical expenses are not the only damages you can recover from a negligent driver. In addition to medical care throughout your recovery, your Miami personal injury lawyer will request compensation for:
- Property damage, including the cost of repairing your car and its diminished value
- The value of your car if it is declared a total loss
- Emotional distress, such as if your accident caused you to suffer from depression
- Past, present, and future lost income and reduced earning capacity
- Physical pain and suffering caused by injuries such as broken bones, traumatic brain injuries (TBI), spinal cord injuries, neck injuries, or any other type of injury
- Where applicable, we also request wrongful death damages
Without legal guidance and support, it can be challenging to understand how to deal with an insurance adjuster after a car accident. While you cope with car accident injuries, your lawyer can assess and document your recoverable damages. Your personal injury attorney can also inform you of the statute of limitations deadline that applies to your case, Florida Statutes § 95.11.
Get a Free Review of Your Motor Vehicle Accident Case to Learn More About the Intersection of Medicine and Law
If you or a loved one was injured in a car accident, your legal team will ask medical experts to weigh in on specific areas of your case. When we build your personal injury claim, we clarify how Miami car accident lawyers collaborate with medical experts. We also explain how the intersection of law and medicine is relevant to your case and help you pursue a fair settlement.
Call (954) 633-8270 to contact our consultation team at the Law Offices of Wolf & Pravato. We offer free initial consultations to accident victims. Our personal injury law firm can provide legal advice, explain the next steps in your car accident claim, and guide you through the legal process.
