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Investigating Injuries After a St. Louis Auto Accident

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two doctors looking at MRI

It’s imperative to see a doctor as soon as possible after a car accident. Some injuries are not visible right away, but a doctor will be able to diagnose and treat them accordingly.

Your GP or the emergency unit doctors will make sure to recommend the proper investigations, but sometimes it’s up to you to request certain tests that might not be suggested at first, due to long waiting times or lack of insurance coverage.

Here are the three most common medical investigations you might consider if you’ve been injured in a car crash.

X-Ray

What Is It?

The most common use for X-Rays in medicine is to identify bone fractures. X-Rays are electromagnetic waves that penetrate soft tissue but don’t go through bone. They provide an image of your skeletal structures, showing fissures, fractures or dislocation.

What Is It Recommended for?

X-Rays will be most probably the first investigation that will be done in an emergency unit. It is meant to detect any bone fractures or other injuries to bone tissue, joints or skull.

CT Scan

What Is It?

A CT scan is performed when the suspected injuries might go beyond just the bone. A CT scanner is a medical device where the patient is laying down and is pushed through a circular scanner. This ensures that there are electromagnetic rays coming from all directions, giving the doctors detailed images of the patient’s insides. The images often appear as “slices” of the human body.

What Is It Recommended for?

A CT scan can detect traumatic brain injuries, internal organs ruptures, soft tissue and blood vessels injuries, tumors, etc. A CT scan will pick up injuries that will go undetected in an X-Ray exam.

MRI

What Is It?

The most complex exam of the three is the MRI scan. It’s not often recommended to car accident patients as their injuries are usually detected with the prior two methods. But, in some cases, certain body parts can be affected in such a way that a diagnosis becomes difficult. An MRI scan is crucial in determining the source of the problem and the right treatment they should take.

What Is It Recommended for?

Most often used when there’s a suspicion of TBI (traumatic brain injury) in a car accident victim, the MRI will be able to show more about the nature of the injury and how the brain was affected. Another diagnosis possible through an MRI scan is related to spinal injuries.

How Can a Car Accident Attorney Help?

If you believe you need extra investigations and your doctors seem reluctant to do them because of administrative issues like insurance coverage, your attorney can advocate for you and demand a more comprehensive evaluation of your injuries. Your St. Louis car accident attorney will ensure your legal right to compensation is protected.

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Spinal Cord Injury Myths That Can Affect Your Car Accident Claim

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There are many myths surrounding this type of injury that may end up hurting your settlement.

car accident victim with a spinal cord injury

Spinal cord injuries are caused when there is damage to the spinal cord or nerves. This type of injury can cause permanent or temporary issues, and the medical treatment that is often required is quite extensive.

It’s why spinal cord injuries are common in car accident claims. However, there are many myths surrounding this type of injury that may end up hurting your settlement. Here are the most common ones:

1. If the Victim Is Young, Rehabilitation Is Easier and Total

A common misconception for really all types of injuries is that when they happen to young people, they are easier to heal. Though it is true that older people can have an increased likelihood of complications, the fact that a person is young is not enough to establish how long it will take them to recover from this type of injury.

The only one that can do that is your doctor. If the insurance company tries to offer a lower settlement because they claim you don’t need as much time to recover as older victims, they are wrong, and you need to push back.

2. Spinal Cord Injuries Are Uncommon in Car Accidents

Another myth is that spinal cord injuries are most commonly caused by falls or direct hits to the spine region. Except, there is no evidence to suggest this is true, and in fact, spinal cord injuries can be very common in high-impact car accidents. The insurance company may ask for additional proof to show that your injury is indeed a cause of the accident, and not something else. But don’t worry, a medical expert can effectively prove it is, based on your medical history and other relevant tests.

3. Doctors or Therapists Can Accurately Predict a Patient’s Recovery

In a car accident claim, the insurance company may bring their own medical expert to weigh in on your case. They do it to show any inconsistencies in your treatment, and sometimes the biggest issue has to with the time for recovery.

The medical expert will claim you can get better in a specific timeframe, usually much lower than the one estimated by your doctor. The insurance company can then use that statement as leverage to lower your settlement. However, it’s almost impossible to predict exactly how long a person will need to recover or how much medical treatment they require. Some data can allow medical experts to assess a potential time frame, but it can’t be used as fact.

Speak WIth an Attorney

If you’ve been the victim of a car accident and have suffered a spinal cord injury as a result, don’t let these common myths about this condition be used to the insurance company’s advantage. Get in touch with a St. Louis car accident lawyer and work together with them to prepare a strong case that can counter any claims made by the adjuster. Give us a call 24/7 at (314) 361-4242 for a FREE case evaluation.