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Can Gaps in Medical Treatment Affect My Car Accident Claim?

If you’ve been injured in a car accident, seeking medical attention is your first priority. Following your medical provider’s instructions can help you recover from your injury and help you get back to life as usual. It can also ensure you’re able to successfully file a claim for damages if the injury was a result of another person’s negligence.

All too often, though, a person forgets to fill a prescription or misses a physical therapy appointment. That small misstep could cost them dearly when they go to file a personal injury claim. Any “gaps” in treatment can be exploited by insurance companies and skillful lawyers. Read on to learn how these gaps can potentially affect your car accident claim.

What Defines a “Gap” and How to Avoid One

In terms of personal injury lawsuits, a “gap” refers to a period of time in which a party doesn’t receive medical treatment. Insurance company adjusters look closely at every claim and make a determination of its value, and they’re looking for any way they can to devalue it. A gap in medical treatment is just one piece of evidence they can use against you.

When assessing a personal injury claim, adjusters will consider either of these two scenarios as a “gap” in medical treatment:

• The time period between the injury and your first doctor visit
• Any time period between your first doctor visit and later follow-ups

Adjusters argue that any gap is evidence that a person’s injury is less severe than they claim, or that they don’t exist at all. That’s why it’s so important to see a doctor immediately after a car accident—even if the accident was minor or you feel no symptoms. The longer you wait to see a doctor, the more evidence adjusters can put forward that you weren’t truly experiencing any physical problems—otherwise, you would have visited the hospital right away.

You also must follow your healthcare provider’s treatment plan in its entirety. Even if you saw a doctor immediately after your accident, you need to attend follow-up appointments to prove the injury is as severe as you claim it is.

Legitimate Reasons for a Gap

Sometimes, situations beyond a person’s control can cause a gap in a victim’s healthcare timeline. After all, being injured doesn’t bring life to a complete halt. Some legitimate reasons for a gap include:

• Family concerns, like travel, weddings, funerals, graduations
• Moving or changing jobs
• Transportation issues
• Unrelated illnesses

Remember that insurance adjusters can manipulate facts about your life outside of your doctor’s appointments to devalue your claim, so keep track of all relevant documentation that can explain gaps in your healthcare timeline.

The Sooner You Seek Medical Treatment After a Car Accident, the Better

If you’ve been injured in a car accident due to another person’s negligence, the best way to support a personal injury claim is by visiting your healthcare provider immediately following the incident and by following the proposed treatment plan to the letter. Ready to start your journey to recovery after a collision? The medical team at Impact Medical Group of Clearwater provides a wide range of treatments to relieve pain, restore mobility, and help you heal after an accident. Call us today at (727) 292-0200 to schedule your free consultation. 

Why You Need More Than Home Remedies to Un-pinch a Nerve

Pinched nerves can be painful, putting a pause on your everyday activities. Most people experience pinched nerves in the neck or lower back, but they can occur in other areas of the body like the elbow, hip, or shoulder. If you have a pinched nerve, you may have heard about home remedies that can ease the pain and discomfort. Unfortunately, these techniques rarely work, and you need the help of a medical provider to achieve relief. Here’s why you need more than home remedies to un-pinch a nerve.

What Causes Pinched Nerves?

Pinched nerves can occur when tissue impedes nearby nerves—or applies too much pressure to them. This relatively common condition affects millions of people each year, and they can develop from several lifestyle factors and conditions like:

• Arthritis
• Obesity
• Poor posture
• Repetitive movements
• Slipped disks

Sometimes, pinched nerves resolve on their own. For pinched nerves that don’t go away, or when they cause significant pain, it’s important to visit your healthcare provider for diagnosis and treatment. If the condition is left untreated, it could lead to permanent nerve damage.

Symptoms of a Pinched Nerve

Wondering if the pain and discomfort you’re feeling are due to a pinched nerve? Symptoms vary depending on the location of the nerve, but most people feel pain that radiates from the area around the nerve outward to other parts of the body.

Pinched nerves in the neck often cause pain that radiates through the arm and into the hand. Pinched nerves in the lower back, on the other hand, often lead to pain that radiates down the leg and into the foot. Other common symptoms include:

• Burning or aching sensations
• Muscle weakness
• Numbness or tingling
• Reduced ability to move the affected limb

Often, symptoms develop gradually, but in some cases, symptoms can arise with no warning. If your pain worsens when you cough or sneeze, or sit for a long period of time, you’re likely dealing with a pinched nerve. Early diagnosis and treatment are critical to keep the condition from worsening.

Treating a Pinched Nerve at Home

While you should always visit a medical provider to diagnose and treat a pinched nerve, there are some at-home techniques you can try to reduce your symptoms until you can be seen. Some home remedies include:

• Resting the affected area
• Applying ice for 20 minutes at a time, several times each day
• Using heat therapy for 20 minutes at a time, several times a day

The Best Treatment for a Pinched Nerve

No matter the location of your pinched nerve or the severity of your pain, seek treatment from a medical provider as soon as possible. Often, a treatment plan with physical therapy, chiropractic care, or manual can provide immediate pain relief and long-term benefits. If you’re suffering from a pinched nerve, or you suspect you might be, reach out to the medical team at Impact Medical Group of Lutz today. Call us at (813) 536-0373 to schedule your free consultation and to receive your comprehensive treatment plan.

What Does Pain and Suffering After an Accident Include?

Hurt in an accident? Even a minor collision can cause long-term physical and mental damage to a person. Car accidents are traumatizing experiences, and aside from physical aches and pains, many victims experience emotional effects like depression and anxiety. With the help of a dedicated medical team—as well as a personal injury lawyer—you can get your life back after a collision. Read on to gain an understanding of what is considered pain and suffering in a car accident.

The Legal Implications of Pain and Suffering

“Pain and suffering” is a legal term that refers to both the physical and emotional injuries a victim endures after an accident. Only an experienced personal injury attorney can determine whether any substantial physical pain or mental anguish you suffer after an accident qualifies you for financial damages. Here’s a breakdown of what may qualify as “pain and suffering”:

Physical Pain and Suffering

Injuries that result from a car accident can be painful and long-lasting. In some cases, the damage can be permanent. There are several examples of physical medical conditions that can qualify a car accident victim for pain and suffering compensation, like:

• Back pain
• Broken/fractured bones
• Dislocated joints
• Headaches
• Internal organ damage
• Muscle damage
• Neck pain
• Nerve damage
• Paralysis
• Traumatic brain injury

Emotional Pain and Suffering

Many car accident victims experience long-lasting mental health symptoms from the traumatic event—the psychological distress can last for months or even years. Chronic mental anguish following a car accident can lead to debilitating pain and suffering. Victims may be eligible to collect financial compensation for the following conditions:

• Anger
• Anxiety
• Cognitive changes due to a head or brain injury
• Fear
• Grief
• Insomnia
• Loss or diminishment of quality of life
• Post-traumatic stress disorder

Loss of Consortium

Some car accidents unfortunately involve loss of life. In these situations, the family may file a wrongful death claim on behalf of a loved one, holding the negligent person accountable. The family may seek compensation for medical bills, lost wages of the deceased, and loss of consortium—a type of pain and suffering experienced by family members after the death of their loved one.

Seek Medical Care After an Accident—Even If You Don’t Have Symptoms

While every situation is different, recovering from a car accident can be a long journey. Reaching out to your preferred medical provider is the first thing you should do after a car accident—even if you aren’t suffering from any apparent injuries. Physical and emotional pain can present itself in the days, weeks, and even months following a collision. Getting a doctor’s opinion not only identifies damage that may cause pain or worsen, but it can also help expedite an insurance claim while bolstering a legal claim.

If you’ve been in a car accident—even a minor fender bender—reach out to the medical team at Impact Medical Group of Port Richey today. We support you on your journey to recovery, so you can get back to enjoying life again. Call us today at (727) 848-3377 to schedule your free consultation.

Can a Concussion from an Auto Accident Cause Jaw Pain?

When you are involved in a car accident, your body is subject to numerous strong forces all at the same time. Even a minor accident at a slow speed of 30 mph can create tons of force on the body.

While you may not notice some injuries immediately, other unexpected symptoms can appear over time. One area that you might notice, even after seeking whiplash or concussion treatment, is pain in the head or neck, including jaw pain and ear issues.

Keep scrolling to learn more about jaw pain after a concussion from our medical team at Impact Medical Wesley Chapel.

Why Your Jaw Might Hurt After an Accident

Jaw pain can occur if the head hits the dashboard, window, steering wheel, or another object during a car accident. Some victims also report that the trauma of an airbag can spur jaw pain and can at times lead to a TMJ injury.

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is one of the most complex joints in the body and links your jawbone to the base of your skull; sliding up and down and back and forth as needed. It is also one of the most frequently used joints in the body.

Think about how often you eat, drink, speak, smile, laugh, or yawn; this is all possible because of the temporomandibular joint.

When the jaw joint is injured or you get a concussion, you can feel pain in the jaw, face, neck, ears, and shoulders. You may also suffer from debilitating headaches.

Note: Jaw disorders caused by accident injuries often do not resolve on their own, because the jaw is in constant use, even when you are asleep. Because of this, any pain should be treated by a doctor.

What is Whiplash or Concussion-Induced TMJ?

Some car accidents result in a concussion or whiplash injury, and one-third of accident victims with these injuries are at risk for a TMJ injury. Remember, the joint and soft tissues surrounding it are very vulnerable to trauma, even in a mild accident.

The discomfort and limited mobility of a TMJ injury can have long-lasting impacts. It can affect your work, daily living activities, mouth hygiene, and mental health.

Unfortunately, TMJ injuries are often overlooked, even when a concussion or whiplash is correctly diagnosed. Sometimes, symptoms may not surface until years later. 

Symptoms of Jaw Pain to Watch For

Jaw pain is the primary symptom of whiplash or concussion induced TMJ. Since the TMJ is connected to so many other parts of the body, other symptoms can manifest as well.

It is important to be on the lookout for these signs and symptoms of injury:

• Tenderness or pain in the face, jaw, neck, or shoulders
• Ear pain or ringing in the ears
• Clicking or popping sound in the jaw
• Difficulty or pain when chewing
• Swelling on the side of the face
• Lockjaw or limited jaw movement
• Headaches
• Dizziness
• Fatigue

You might only experience a few of these symptoms or, in some cases, all of them. If you are in a car accident and develop any of these complaints, visit our team at Impact Medical Wesley Chapel for a checkup.

What to Do if You Have Jaw Pain Following an Accident

If you experience jaw pain after an accident, there are steps that you should take to protect your health and get relief.

First, visit a doctor or go to the emergency room if you have severe pain or any difficulty moving your jaw. If you think that you have a TMJ injury, ask to be referred to a dentist or oral surgeon who specializes in TMJ conditions.

• Avoid hard or chewy foods and eat a soft diet.
• Try over-the-counter pain relievers, ice packs, and heat to help alleviate discomfort.
• Avoid stressful situations as they can aggravate TMJ pain and get plenty of rest.
• You may want to try relaxation techniques such as meditation or yoga to ease stress and tension.

Physical therapy, injections, and a mouth guard or splint can stabilize TMJ and allow it to heal. Surgery should only be considered after other measures have failed.

Relief from TMJ Pain

If you have been in a car accident and are experiencing TMJ, whiplash, or concussion pain, lean on our compassionate team at Impact Medical Wesley Chapel. We will help you heal and recover so you can get back to your daily life pain-free.

Say goodbye to TMJ pain! Call Impact Medical Wesley Chapel for an appointment today at (813) 953-1002!