How Long Should I Receive Medical Care After an Alaska Auto Accident?

 

It may seem like a simple question, but you might be surprised to learn that the answer is quite complicated. To start, every car accident case is different, and injuries impact the lives of victims in various ways. You cannot say you will commit to getting medical treatment until you are fully recovered or 100% back to normal, since this is often not the case. Many individuals will experience ongoing symptoms or chronic pain, while others sustain permanent disabilities and long-term complications from their auto crash injuries.

As a result, the more succinct question might be: What factors affect how long I should be in treatment for motor vehicle collision injuries? Because they may affect your legal rights, there are a few issues to discuss with your Alaska car accident lawyer when considering the timing.

 

Recommendations From Health Care Providers

Without a doubt, the most important resources in determining all aspects of medical treatment are your treating physicians and specialists. You may have received care from numerous individuals, from your first visit to the ER or urgent care center to follow up visits. These health care providers know your medical history, initial diagnoses, and many other details, so they are in the best position to advise you on continuing the care plan.

Still, while they strive to get you back to your original state of health, physicians are not miracle workers. There may be lingering effects from your injuries that you will carry for life.

 

Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI) 

This is a standard in the practice of law that assesses your pre-accident state and compares it to the level of recovery you achieved through treatment. Your outlook is good if your MMI reveals that you bounced back completely. However, MMI may also mean that:

  • Your condition has stabilized, even though you may not be back to your 100%, pre-accident self; and,
  • There is no additional treatment, procedure, or course of care that will improve your current medical condition.

 

Ramifications When Injuries are Permanent

When your MMI does not equal your pre-accident condition, you at least have a view of what your future will look like in terms of continued care. Still, Alaska has a two-year statute of limitations, so you cannot sit on your legal remedies forever. The goal when you sustain permanent injuries would be to seek compensation that accounts for your future care costs, pain and suffering, and implications for your quality of life.

 

Consult with Our Anchorage, AK Auto Collision Attorneys Today

If you were involved in a car accident, it is essential to get the medical care you need right away and to continue with treatment based upon your doctor’s recommendations. However, there may come a point where you need to address the permanent implications for your health and the losses you suffer because of them. For more information, please contactPower & Power Law in Anchorage, Alaska. We can schedule a no-cost case evaluation to learn more about your situation and determine how to proceed.