When dealing with the complexities of personal injury claim, the role of a family doctor cannot be overstated. Family doctors are the primary care providers for those lucky enough to have them and they are essential not only for medical care, but also as key players in the legal process that follows an injury. Their insights, documentation, and ongoing care can significantly influence the outcome of a personal injury case.
Understanding the Role of Family Doctors
Personal injury claims can come from almost any type of activity, slips and falls, animal attacks, negligent property owners, or sporting and recreational injuries. In these situations, a family doctor not only treats the injuries but also plays a pivotal role in documenting the patient’s condition. This documentation is vital for establishing the severity of the injury and its impact on the patient’s life, which is a key component of any personal injury claim.
Family doctors are often the first point of contact for patients after an injury. They provide immediate care, perform assessments, initiate treatment plans, and oversee recoveries. Their familiarity with a patient’s medical history allows them to offer personalized care and keep an eye out for impacts from injuries that other doctors that don’t have this familiarity might miss. Often, long-term continuity of care ensures that any physical or psychological issues are addressed promptly.
Another area where family doctors are important is with respect to referrals to specialists. Often serious personal injury claims come with more than one injury, be they physical or psychological in nature, and those injuries often require different specialists to provide opinions on diagnosis, treatment recommendations, and prognosis. Without a family doctor to refer a patient to specialists, it is almost impossible to get specialist treatment in the Canadian medical system.
The Importance of Your Doctor’s Clinical Records
One of the most important contributions of family doctors in personal injury cases is their ability to provide thorough and accurate medical documentation through their clinical records. This includes detailed notes on the patient’s injuries, treatment plans, and follow-up care. These records are essential for legal proceedings as they serve as evidence to support the claims made by the injured party and allow expert specialist witnesses to have a third party history of a patient to rely upon when coming to their opinion for the Court.
To build a strong personal injury case in British Columbia, it is essential to establish a clear narrative of the injury’s impact on the victim’s life. Family doctors contribute to this narrative by providing consistent, long-term care and detailed records that illustrate the progression of the patient’s recovery. Significant injuries can lead to long-term disability and loss of employment. To make claims for damages for such significant losses there needs to be documentation to support the claims. Often a family doctor’s clinical records are these documents.
What To Do If You Don’t Have A Family Doctor?
Unfortunately, the reality is that many individuals in Canada no longer have access to a family doctor. It is an issue which is plaguing all areas of the country, and it does not appear that it will get better any time soon.
While there is nothing that will stand in the place of having your own family doctor, some options if you do not have access to a family doctor are:
- Walk-in Clinics – Walk-in clinics can be helpful for those without a family doctor for non-emergency medical issues. These clinics often don’t require an appointment, however, you are also not guaranteed to see the same doctor if you return to the clinic for a follow-up appointment, so you lose the continuity of care that you would have with a family doctor.
- Nurse Practitioners – Nurse practitioners are becoming an ever increasingly popular alternative to going without a family doctor for a significant number of Canadians. While they are not doctors, nurse practitioners often come with the experience and insight to provide the care you need. For personal injury claims, the problem with nurse practitioners is that in the legal setting their opinion, rightly or wrongly, will likely not carry the same weight as that of a doctor. They are also more limited in their ability to make referrals and prescribe medicines when compared to a family doctor.
- Urgent Care Centers – For more serious but non-life-threatening conditions, you can go to an urgent care center, however, they will not provide the care, and treatment plans you would get from a family doctor.
- Community Health Centers – Some community health centers may offer services without requiring a family doctor.
- Telehealth Services – There is a growing number of telehealth services that offer consultations and advice in certain circumstances, especially with respect to mental health counselling.
- Emergency Rooms – As a last resort, if your injuries are significant and you have a medical emergency, you can go to the nearest hospital emergency room.
Experienced Personal Injury Lawyers
Family doctors play an indispensable role in personal injury claims, by providing care and documentation which will help you recover and act as evidence in your claim.
If you have been injured due to the negligence of others, the experienced personal injury lawyers at Taylor & Blair LLP can help you with your claim. Contact our lawyers today for a free consultation.