#6 MISTAKE: Not telling your medical providers about any previous similar medical problems or issues prior to your car accident

QUESTION: Why is it important to tell you medical providers about previous similar medical problems or issues prior to your car accident?

ANSWER: Telling your medical provider about your medical history is critical for your credibility and your claim. If you forget to tell them something — the insurance company is going to say you were hiding it — not that you forgot. Don’t fall into the trap of thinking that your medical provider is better off not knowing what happened in the past. The more accurate you are, the better your provider can help you.

The sixth biggest mistake you can make is not telling your medical provider about similar problems or issues you had prior to your car accident. It is critical for your providers to have an accurate medical history. It’s important to think hard about other car accidents, worker compensation claims, or a time when you were bending over and tweaked your back. If you already started getting medical treatment and you forgot to say something to your medical providers — it’s never too late to let them know.

Your credibility, and that of your medical provider, is important to your case. If you forget to tell them something — the insurance company is going to say you were hiding it — not that you forgot. If they ask your medical provider for a report and he or she didn’t know you had been injured or had pain that caused you to see a provider in the past, the insurance company will attack what your provider says. The adjuster will take the position that your medical provider is doing their best — but your provider’s opinion is wrong because you were not honest with them.

Don’t fall into the trap of thinking that your medical provider is better off not knowing what happened in the past. The more accurate you are, the better your provider can help you.