Medical Professionals:
Auto & Car Accidents
Following a car accident, you will inevitably be faced with the daunting task of navigating the highly complex American medical system. You will find yourself having to make some difficult decisions with very little information to go on. Not only does your health hang in the balance but also your ability to receive compensation for your injuries may greatly depend on the medical choices you make.
The best way to protect yourself is to be an informed consumer. We at The Law Offices of Jonathan B. Nelson, PC can put our experience to work for you. We can give you the legal information you need to seek proper treatment for a car accident injury and protect your rights. For example, many people don’t know that doctor and hospital bills are highly negotiable. We can make sure that you are not overcharged for the services you were rendered and can help to hold bill collectors at bay until you receive the proceeds from your settlement or trial. The following is some barebones information on some of the specialists and treatments you might receive following a car accident.
Neurologist
A neurologist is an osteopath (D.O.) or medical doctor (M.D.) who has trained in the diagnosis and treatment of nervous system disorders, including diseases of the brain, spinal cord, nerves, and muscles. Following a car accident, you may need to see a neurologist if you have suffered a brain or spinal cord injury of any kind.
Orthopedist
If you receive a whiplash or other soft tissue injury in a motor vehicle accident, you may need to receive orthopedic services. Orthopedic services are primarily provided by your family physician or an orthopedist. An orthopedic doctor is a physician who specializes in the preservation and restoration of the function of the skeletal system (bones), its articulation (joints), and associated structures (muscles, tendons ligaments). A Chiropractor is a physician (not an M.D.) who looks to the physiological and biochemical aspects of the patient, including structural, spinal, musculoskeletal, neurological, vascular, emotional and environmental relationships.
The quality of services received from an orthopedist or chiropractor can range from superb to extremely substandard. It is important to find a properly qualified doctor or chiropractor with experience in treating car accident injuries and a reputation for honesty. At The Law Offices of Jonathan B. Nelson, PC we can help recommend doctors and chiropractors who have the right combination of healing experience and documentation efficiency that will be necessary to both heal you and assist in filing your claim.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
You may be asked by your doctor to obtain a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) following a car accident. An MRI is a diagnostic tool used by many different physicians. It is similar to an X-ray in that it takes pictures of the internal structure of the body; however, the images it produces are much clearer and more detailed than an X-ray. An MRI uses radio frequency waves and a strong magnetic field to generate detailed images of the body’s internal organs and tissues. Like every diagnostic tool, the MRI involves some risks and benefits, which are noted below.
Benefits
- No exposure to potentially cancer causing radiation
- No use of potentially allergy causing iodine as is used in X-rays and CAT scans
- Eliminates the challenge of diagnosing conditions obscured by bones
- Gives physicians a tool to evaluation both the function and structure of the body’s organs
- Great for diagnosing problems with the soft tissue structure of the body
Risks
The strong magnetic field can cause serious injury to those with implanted neurological stimulators such as those used in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease or any metal in their brain or skull. In almost all cases, physicians will ask a potential MRI user whether he or she has a neurological stimulator or any reason to believe that metal might be implanted or lodged in their body. Most injuries have occurred because a person did not know he or she had an implant or forgot inform to their physician.
Generally not used on women in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy
Nerve Conduction Studies or EMG
You may be asked by your doctor to undergo an electrodiagnostic procedure such as an electromyography (EMG) or nerve conduction study. These procedures rely on measures of electrical signals and activity to identify hard to diagnose injuries such as nerve or muscle damage causing lower back pain. The following is a brief description of EMGs and nerve conduction studies.
EMG - Measure the electrical activity in nerves to determine whether an injury has caused muscle weakness or damaged a nerve or nerves that control certain muscles. Extremely fine needles are inserted into certain muscles to calculate the electrical activity from the brain or spinal cord to an injured part of the body.
Nerve Conduction Study – Used to identify nerve damage. Two sets of electrodes are placed on parts of the skin over a particular muscle the physician is interested in. One set of electrodes produces a minimal shock designed to stimulate the nerve running to the muscle and the other measures the nerve’s electrical signals to identify a problem.
Physical Therapy
Physical therapy is the process of treating the physical consequences of injuries through human and machine assistive tools and devices. Physical therapy can be given in a variety of different settings including in the home, a doctors office, a hospital, or a specially designed clinic. Like other medical services, the quality of physical therapy and cost can differ from practitioner to practitioner. If you thinking of undergoing physical therapy for an accident injury, it may be a good idea to contact a qualified personal injury attorney such as The Law Offices of Jonathan B. Nelson, PC. We know the ins and outs of physical therapy from our extensive experience with other clients. We have a Rolodex of physical therapists that charge a reasonable fee and offer high quality service. We know how to spot practitioners who may be overcharging you or prescribing unneeded services because they anticipate being reimbursement by an insurance company and/or settlement/lawsuit.
The following is some basic information about physical therapy. Physical therapy may be prescribed by a variety of different physicians for a variety of different injuries.
Common physical therapy treatments include:
- Exercise programs
- Massage
- Hot and cold compresses
- Electrical stimulation
- Ultrasonography
There are generally considered to be six different types of physical therapy:
Orthopedic – Treats bones, tendons, ligaments, and muscles
Pediatric – Specializes in treating children’s physical problems
Geriatric - Specializes in treating older adult’s physical problems
Neurological – Treats the physical manifestations of neurological disorders. In the case of car accidents, would be prescribed for brain and spinal injuries
Cardiovascular – Treats people for the physical consequences resulting from cardiovascular related surgeries
Pulmonary – Treats people for the physical consequences resulting from pulmonary surgery
Physical therapy is normally practiced by licensed physical therapists and their assistants in conjunction with a variety of other medical personnel including speech and therapy specialists, nurses, family practitioners, specialists, psychologists and more. The degree and the goals of the therapy employed depend heavily on the severity of the condition. In some cases, physical therapy is prescribed to prevent a permanent injury from worsening, such as in the case of paraplegics and quadriplegics whose inability to move paralyzed limbs may lead to serious infections or a further loss of muscle mass (atrophy). In less severe cases, the goal might be to restore partial function in a limb or get the patient back to his or her normal functioning level. Physical therapy can last from just a few days to a lifetime. The expenses can range from a couple of hundred dollars, such as from a few visits to a chiropractor, or to a few million, as can be the case if someone needs lifetime assistive care.
Practice Areas
Lead Poisoning | Brain Injury | Birth Injury | Cerebral Palsy
Slip, Trip & Fall | Auto Accidents | Products Liability
Criminal Law & Offenses | Criminal Defense | DWI
White Collar Crimes | Construction Accidents | Biography
Sitemap | Contact Us
<!--
