The Medical Treatment Process After Hiring a Personal Injury Lawyer

Serious injuries bring pain, worry, and a whirlwind of appointments. You may wonder who will pay the bills or handle pushy insurance adjusters while you try to heal. Since 1996, the Law Office of Shane R. Kadlec has stepped in at moments like these to shoulder the legal load and guide clients in Houston through each phase of recovery. 

The article explains, in plain language, how the medical treatment process unfolds once you have legal representation, so you can focus on getting better while we protect your claim.

Initial Steps After Hiring a Personal Injury Lawyer

The moment you sign with an attorney, two goals run side by side: building a strong case and supporting your health. Both start with clear communication.

Official Representation

Your lawyer quickly sends letters to all parties involved. That list usually includes the at-fault driver’s insurer, your carrier, and each health-care provider.

• These letters state that all calls or mail must come through the law office, not to you directly.
• They freeze aggressive adjusters in their tracks and prevent careless statements that could hurt your case.

With the legal buffer in place, you can answer the phone without anxiety and attend medical visits without distraction.

Case Evaluation and Strategy

Next, your legal team gathers the puzzle pieces needed to explain precisely how the crash or fall harmed you. Police reports, photos, witness accounts, and your first set of emergency records form the foundation. At the same time, the attorney reviews deadlines, insurance limits, and any potential liens that could affect your final recovery.

The Importance of Medical Treatment

Medical care is more than a path to feeling better. It serves as living proof of your injuries and the costs tied to them. Skipping visits or stopping therapy too soon can shrink both your health gains and the value of your claim.

Documenting Injuries and Treatment

Every visit you attend produces records that describe symptoms, test results, and provider opinions. We recommend keeping a simple folder or digital file with:

1. Appointment summaries and chart notes.
2. Itemized bills and receipts for medicine, braces, or mobility aids.
3. Mileage logs are required for travel to clinics when the round-trip is lengthy.

Turning these items in promptly helps the legal team build a timeline that insurance companies cannot ignore.

Following Doctor’s Orders

Gaps in care raise red flags for adjusters, who may argue that your injuries healed faster than claimed. Attend all sessions, take prescriptions as written, and complete home exercises. If any treatment feels wrong or worsens pain, speak up and request a referral rather than quitting outright.

Communicating with Your Attorney About Medical Care

Keep your lawyer in the loop about new diagnoses, referrals, or setbacks. A quick email or call whenever something changes lets the team update the claim value and head off billing glitches.

How Medical Treatment Affects Your Personal Injury Claim

The scope and length of care often drive the negotiation range. Extended physical therapy, injections, or surgery usually translate into larger settlements, while minor care with short follow-up lowers the ceiling.

Establishing the Value of Your Claim

Insurance companies measure losses in several categories, but three carry the most weight:

• Medical bills past and future.
• Lost wages from missed work or reduced hours.
• Pain and suffering based on how injuries affect daily life.

Consistent treatment supplies complex numbers for the first two categories and persuasive support for the third.

The Risks of Delaying or Refusing Treatment

Even a short gap may prompt an adjuster to claim you felt fine during that period. If a doctor recommends care you cannot afford, tell your lawyer right away. We can often arrange treatment on a lien, meaning providers wait for payment until the case settles rather than turning you away.

Responsibilities During the Medical Treatment Phase

Having a lawyer lifts much of the burden, yet you still play an active part. Clear records and prompt updates enable us to work more efficiently and demand the full amount you deserve.

Providing Information and Documentation

Hand over new bills as they arrive and ask each physician’s office for itemized statements whenever possible. Many clients also keep a brief daily log, rating pain, mobility, and emotional stress. This first-person record fills in gaps that clinical notes may miss.

Maintaining Open Communication

If our office requests a document or signature, respond quickly to keep the file moving. Feel free to ask questions about claim status, upcoming steps, or settlement ranges. No concern is too small when your health and finances are on the line.

Post-Treatment Procedures

Once your doctor declares that further improvement is unlikely, the legal process shifts gears. We gather final records, calculate total losses, and approach the insurance company with a demand that reflects both past harm and future needs.

Final Medical Evaluation

For serious injuries, we often ask treating specialists to write an impairment rating or future-care letter. This document explains any lasting limits, the likelihood of flare-ups, and projected costs for follow-up visits or devices such as braces or mobility aids.

Negotiating a Settlement

The demand package includes a narrative of the crash, a chart of medical expenses, verification of wage loss, and evidence of pain, such as journal excerpts or family statements. Adjusters respond with an offer, and bargaining begins. Most cases resolve during this stage without court involvement.

Filing a Lawsuit (If Necessary)

When talks stall, litigation keeps pressure on the insurer. The attorney files suit before the statute of limitations expires and continues to negotiate while exchanging evidence through discovery. Many cases still settle before trial, but the willingness to litigate often raises the final figure.

Common Medical Documents and Their Role in Your Case

Document	Produced By	Why It Matters
Emergency Room Record	Hospital	Shows trauma details and links injuries to the incident date.
Imaging Report (X-ray, MRI)	Radiologist	Provides objective proof of fractures, disc damage, or soft-tissue tears.
Treatment Plan	Primary Physician or Specialist	Outlines recommended therapy, supporting the need for future care.
Physical Therapy Progress Notes	Therapist	Track functional gains or setbacks over time.
Impairment Rating	Physiatrist or Surgeon	Quantifies permanent loss, critical for negotiating long-term damages.

Having these papers in order lets your legal team answer insurer questions swiftly and avoid low offers based on missing data.

Contact the Law Office of Shane R. Kadlec for Assistance

Our firm has devoted nearly three decades to helping accident survivors in Houston secure the care and money they need to move forward. From coordinating lien-based treatment to taking stubborn insurers to court, we stand beside you every step of the way. If you need guidance after an injury, call us at 281-643-2000 or reach out through our contact page. We fight for the best outcome so you can focus on healing and rebuilding your life.