What You Should Know if You have Been Involved in a Car Accident
Did you know one of the most stressful aspects of living in a modern life is dealing with the problems that arise after an auto accident? Were you also aware that some auto accident injuries are hidden and seldom detected for months or even years?
As a result, a lot of accident victims in the Parkland, Coral Springs, Boca Raton, Coconut Creek and Margate areas settle their case with the insurance companies before getting evaluated from a Doctor trained in soft tissue injuries. THIS COULD BE A BIG MISTAKE.
Why? Because once you settle your case you loose the right for care if you need it.
A good rule of thumb is to get educated in your rights, then make a decision, there is no reason to rush; it can only hurt you.
It is our position that if you were indeed injured, you should get the care you need to get you back to the way you felt and functioned just before the accident.
Now, it is not the responsibility of the insurance company to pay for anything more than that. They are not responsible for pre-existing injuries; only the injuries sustained from the accident.
Even if you are just sore, you should get checked out immediately.
Because you may experience pain, numbness, headaches, muscle stiffness, fatigue, and other problems including arthritis many months down the road.
Remember, Nothing is more important that your health when you start to lose it.
Here's where the problem begins.....Most people who suffer from an auto accident have one thing on their minds: Their Automobile!
Common questions include:
"Who is going to fix my car?", "What will I drive in the mean time?", "Will my insurance rates go up?", "Who is going to pay for it?" and the last thing in on their mind is...
"Am I Really O.K.?"
Not only are auto accidents an inconvenience and a hassle, a common general complaint of auto accident victims is that they don't feel their normal self.
You may also be experiencing obvious pains and symptoms like muscle stiffness or spasms, neck pain, headaches, numbness and tingling, back pain, difficulty sleeping, irritability, memory loss, fatigue, difficulty concentrating and many other difficulties or worse than that, you may be injured and feel nothing at all.
Either way, did you know that auto accidents could cause post traumatic osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis can ruin you posture (giving you a slumped or hump back appearance).
Osteoarthritis can cause the discs in your spine to degenerate and create scar tissue formation leading to chronic stiffness and the inability to move properly.
When this happens, simple tasks like turning your neck become painful and almost impossible.
As a matter of fact...
Even if you were involved in a minor fender bender, studies have proven you can be severely injured and feel slight discomfort or no pain at all.That's right, you can be severely injured, and feel only slight pain, or even no pain at all right after your accident. More than half of all whiplash injuries occur in crashes, where there is little or no damage to the vehicle.Your doctor might miss this injury, and mistake your pain for something completely different. This is when insurance companies try to settle with you. Don't make this mistake. Insurance adjusters know all about the kind of injuries people like you and me can experience in an accident. They know sometimes you don’t feel injured right away and that’s why they try to settle as quickly as possible while your medical bills are low or non-existent.This way they do not have to pick up the tab for the treatment you need and deserve.They are not bad people, but they want to make and save money.This can happen, even if it’s your own insurance company you're dealing with! Make no mistake, Insurance is a business like any other, and the less they spend helping their clients, (or the people they hit) the more money they make.
Most Doctors Are Not Trained In The Detection Of These Hidden Injuries....
How are these hidden injuries detected?
If you have been in an auto accident, you need a doctor that is trained in the biomechanics of the human body, someone who treats these injuries every day.
That means that he or she can perform orthopedic and neurological tests as well as other functional tests that can assess soft tissue damage, muscle strength, range of motion, and joint and nerve function.
In addition, x-rays can be taken to find out if there has been any structural damage.
My name is Dr. Joseph Bogart and I have been treating Auto Accident patients for over 6 years now.
We evaluate auto accident victims, and make any appropriate referrals to other health care providers if needed; including orthopedic doctors, neurologists, physical therapists, acupuncturists, massage therapists, and MRI centers.
Our Primary Responsibility Is Giving You The Care If You Need It, And Submitting The Required Medical Reports To The Insurance Company So Your Rights Are Protected.
Unfortunately, there are people who seek treatment who are not injured for the sake of financial gain, If you are one of those people, please do not call our office.
There are also people who are injured who aren't getting the care they need. If you are injured call us, we can help you alot; you will not be treated for months on end. We want you to get fixed and out of our office as soon as possible!
If we can't help you, we will refer you to a Doctor or facility that can.
Our office is located in the heart of Parkland in the Parkland Town Center. This is the same plaza as Pizza Time. We have been serving patients in the cities of Parkland, Coral Springs, Coconut Creek, Boca Raton, Deerfield, and Margate. We have gained such a reputation that we have patients that drive to see us from Boynton, and Aventura on a regular basis.
If you work late, we have evening hours.
We have treated literally hundreds and hundreds of auto accident victims just like you.
We are staffed with the friendliest people you could ever meet who are all trained in handling the sometimes confusing paperwork that needs to be filled out to make sure that........
Your rights are protected and your injuries are properly documented.
Are You Suffering Right Now With Any Of The Following Symptoms?
- Muscle Stiffness
- Spasm
- Neck Pain
- Headaches
- Numbness And Tingling
- Mid Back Pain
- TMJ Problems
- Low Back Pain
- Difficulty Sleeping
- Irritability
- Memory Loss
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Difficulty Concentrating
Perhaps not, and that could be even worse. You may not be feeling any of these symptoms right now because your injury hasn’t begun to produce them yet. Since you feel okay, you may be doing things that can make your injury more severe until the symptoms listed above, start popping up!
About 20 Million People In The United States Have Suffered Whiplash Damage.
Did you know your neck is jam-packed with nerves, glands, tubes, blood vessels, lymph nodes, and 48 different joints. Add to that your brain stem, spinal column, spinal cord, discs, muscles, tendons, ligaments, fluids, meninges and more!
The Chances Of You Becoming A Whiplash Victim
In An Accident Are Extremely High. Each year, approximately 3 million people experience whiplash and back injury.That is about ½ of all people who have been exposed to such crashes.
A person that is struck from the rear (excluding all other types of crashes) stands about a 50% chance of being injured. If injured they stand a 50% chance of having long-term pain or other complaints.About 45% of all Americans with chronic neck pain, attribute it to car crashes.
Whiplash causes disc and other soft tissue damage, spinal column misalignment, stretching or pinching of the nerves, spinal curve reversal, postural changes, and or course, pain.
Are You A Whiplash Victim?
Proper evaluation and treatment by an injury specialist can make the difference between…
True Recovery, Healing And Strength Vs. Lingering Pain, Sickness and Disability
There are also people who are injured who aren't getting the care they need whether they know it or not. If you are injured, or think you might be injured, call us today. We can help you a lot in a relatively short period of time. We want you to get fixed and out of our office as soon as possible so you can get back to enjoying your life!
If we find that we can't help you, we will gladly refer you out.
If you have been in an auto accident recently, there are some important decisions you have to make and if we were you, we’d make these decisions very carefully.
Commonly Asked Questions By Accident Victims
Q: Should I See An Attorney Before I See Dr. Bogart ?
A: It is important to get checked out by the doctor first, that way the findings from your exam will give you the information you need in order to decide if an attorney is necessary. If necessary, we can refer you to a reputable and qualified attorney.
Q: Do I have to go to the Doctor my attorney picked for me?
A: No. You have the right to choose which ever healthcare provider you want. However, your attorney has probably sent you to a doctor they know and trust.
Q: What If My Car Sustained Only Minor Damage?
A: Documented studies done by Charles Carroll, M.D., Paul McAtee, M.D. and Lee Riley, M.D. revealed that: "The amount of damage to the automobile bears little relation to the force applied to the cervical spine (neck) of the occupants."
In other words, the damage to the passengers is not necessarily directly related to the amount of damage to the vehicle. Many times, no damage to the car, means the forces were not absorbed by the cars, but transferred to the driver and passengers instead.
Because of this, it's probably wise to wait a couple weeks after your injury before you settle your case.
Q: If I Need Treatment For This Injury, Do I Have To Pay For It Myself?
A: Not if you had current auto insurance at the time of the accident. Only in extremely rare circumstances does the patient pay for their care. Florida is a ‘no fault’ state meaning that no matter who is at fault in the accident, you are still entitled to personal injury benefits under your car insurance policy.
If you have what’s called "Med Pay" on your policy, your medical bills will be paid 100% up to a specific amount based on your policy limit. Using your Personal Injury Protection will not raise your rates. However, if you did not have Automobile Insurance on your policy, then we will accept an attorney lien on the case. This allows you to get treatment and then have the bill paid when your case is settled. Our office manager can assist you in obtaining this information.
Q: The Insurance Company Has Been Calling Me And Wants To Settle, What Should I Do?
A: Do not sign, settle, or close anything until you have had us evaluate your injury for you. If you settle before your injury is fully resolved, you will be completely on your own, and you will have to pay out of pocket for your care.
Q: I've Been To The Hospital, Do I Really Need to See Dr. Bogart?
A: Emergency room technicians (doctors, nurses, aides, etc...) are well trained to detect life-threatening conditions and provide appropriate care as needed.
If your injuries do not fall into the categories of… broken bones, internal injuries, burns, severe gashes, or lacerations, the hospital will typically evaluate you, check your vital signs, and send you home with pain medication, sleep medication, anti-inflammation medication or muscle relaxers. No attention is paid to your subtle, but serious soft tissue injuries.
You need a doctor that focuses on the treatment and diagnosis of auto accident injuries.
Q: What about the pain pills my MD gave me, won’t they do the trick?
A: If your M.D. has given you pills, you must understand that, while pills will help alleviate the pain, they do not fix structural or soft tissue damage.There are special treatments and therapies designed for that, and we offer them at our Coral Springs office.Normally, medical doctors do not treat the underlying problems such as musculoskeletal biomechanics, misalignments, and soft tissue injuries that can, and often do lead to future pain. If you are still having problems, you should get a second opinion.
Q: Does Your Care Hurt?
A: Absolutely not. The care we give is very gentle and quite soothing. Our care is so gentle, a large number of children and geriatric patients seek our services. Most patients can hardly wait to get their care.
Q: Is The Care safe?
A: Yes, extremely safe. Particularly when compared to the side effects from all medications or surgeries. It’s safer than aspirin!
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