Seeking medical attention should be a top priority after sustaining an injury in Indiana. In some situations, such as a car accident, EMTs and an ambulance may be present at the scene of the crash. Other accidents are not as immediately attended to, such as medical malpractice or nursing home abuse. Injuries can also linger; the full extent of an injury may not be immediately obvious after it occurs.

No matter what the cause or scope of your injury is, medical attention is not just essential for your recovery. Compensatory damages in a personal injury case are based on medical evidence and ongoing records of care.

If you choose to file an injury claim or lawsuit, you will need to prove that your injuries were the result of an accident caused by another party’s negligence. Medical records that comprehensively cover your physical injury and recovery, as well as ongoing treatment, emotional and psychological impact, and financial burden are the best evidence to prove this.

Pausing or skipping treatment of your injury will help no one, except insurance adjusters and the negligent party who caused your injury. They will argue that your injuries are not legitimate or severe to devalue your claim. This can result in lower compensation awarded for your damages.

What Counts as a Gap in Treatment in an Injury Case?

A gap in treatment occurs at any point in your recovery from an injury where you forgo medical care. There are two periods of time following an injury where medical care is most often skipped: immediately following an accident resulting in injury, and in the weeks and months following an injury where you may go for substantial periods of time without seeing a doctor.

Even if you feel physically fine immediately after an accident, you should still seek medical attention. There is a chance that you are physically fine. However, it is better to find any injuries sooner than later, and also have a documented medical record of them that demonstrates your attentiveness to recovery. One of the first things a personal injury law firm in Indianapolis will ask for is proof of medical care following your injury.

If you see a doctor following an injury, you need to follow up with them and commit to their recommended treatment plan. Missed appointments, forgoing recommended care and recovery options, and prematurely ending treatment can all be used by an insurance adjuster or negligent party to demonstrate that your injuries are not as severe as you claim or that you are not dedicated to recovering. This can result in lower compensation for your damages.

What Are Legitimate Reasons for a Gap in Treatment for Your Injury?

Of course, we all continue to lead lives after we are injured. If you find that you have to miss a doctor’s appointment or forgo care for a period of time, you should do so only for legitimate reasons, and clearly document that you rescheduled the appointment or follow up as soon as possible.

And again, if you sustained a serious injury because of somebody else’s negligence, you should speak to a lawyer about your situation. They will be able to help you document your medical issues and speak with doctors even if you must deal with a gap in treatment.

Legitimate reasons for a gap in treatment can include:

Unexpected emergencies
Incidents involving family, such as visits, deaths, and other emergencies
Other sicknesses or injuries, such as a contagious illness, or recovery from surgery that would sideline other care
Extreme weather that would prevent transportation to an appointment or a medical center from being open

Payment, with or without insurance, should not be a reason to skip medical treatment. Indiana does not have a cap on economic damages that includes medical bills, lost wages, and other monetary losses. You can be fairly compensated for incurred medical bills.

A lawyer can assist in finding medical care that will treat your injury on a lien that will come out of your awarded injury settlement. In fact, many attorneys have relationships with physical therapists, surgeons, clinics, orthopedic specialists and more – the most important thing is that you get treatment as soon as possible.

Tips for Managing Your Injury Recovery

Since medical records are your best evidence for proving the extent of your injury and its economic and non-economic effects, it is important to have a say in managing your medical care. Even small actions can make all the difference in both your physical and financial recovery, such as:

Seeking immediate medical attention
Being honest with your doctor about the state of your injuries
Communicating with your care team about your progress, setbacks, worsening symptoms, and appointment attendance
Promptly rescheduling any missed appointments
Keeping a journal tracking your pain, recovery, emotional and mental stress, and any other relevant information
Following your doctor’s treatment plan, including filling and taking any medications, going to physical therapy or counselling, and receiving specialized care
Avoiding any activities, work, settings, or other situations that could potentially worsen your injury

That last point hints at another issue with gaps in treatment; obfuscation of the cause of the injury. An insurance adjuster or negligent party will use any excuse to devalue your claims of injury.

If you were hurt in a slip and fall, car accident, at work, or somewhere else, but you did not receive any documented medical care for a period of time after the injury, it becomes harder to prove that your injury came from the accident. For instance, you could have been hurt at any point during that gap.

Your best course of action is always to follow a doctor’s recommendations and document your progress in recovery.

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