--- title: How Long Do You Have To Get Medical Treatment After An Accident? description: Following an accident you have to go to treatment for as long as your doctor, chiropractor, or other medical provider tells you to, which will depend on the severity of your injuries. image: https://blog.amerihopealliance.com/hubfs/images/ClockChain.jpg --- [![Foreclosure and Loan Modification Lawyers](https://blog.amerihopealliance.com/hs-fs/images/forclosure-attorneys.png?width=360&height=117&name=forclosure-attorneys.png "Foreclosure and Loan Modification Lawyers")](https://www.amerihopealliance.com/) - Practice Areas - [Foreclosure Defense](https://amerihopealliance.com/foreclosure-defense) - [Claim Surplus Funds](https://amerihopealliance.com/surplus-funds) - [Loan Modification](https://amerihopealliance.com/loan-modification) - [Tax Resolution & Tax Preparation](https://amerihopealliance.com/en/amerihope-alliance-tax-resolution) - [Bankruptcy](https://amerihopealliance.com/en/bankruptcy) - [Probate](https://amerihopealliance.com/en/probate) - [About Us](https://amerihopealliance.com/about_us) - [Case Results](https://legal.amerihopealliance.com/case-results) - [Client Login](https://amerihopealliance.com/client_login) - [FAQ](https://amerihopealliance.com/frequently-asked-questions) - [Contact Us](https://amerihopealliance.com/contact_us) - [Blog](https://blog.amerihopealliance.com/blog) - [Foreclosure and Loan Modification Blog](https://blog.amerihopealliance.com/blog) - [Personal Injury Blog](https://blog.amerihopealliance.com/personal-injury) - [Referrals](https://amerihopealliance.com/surplus-case-referral) ph: (877) 882-5338 # Personal Injury Blog - [Blog](https://blog.amerihopealliance.com/blog) - Personal Injury Blog ## How Long Do You Have To Get Medical Treatment After An Accident? \[fa icon="clock-o"\] August 2018 \[fa icon="user"\] [Maxwell Swinney](https://blog.amerihopealliance.com/personal-injury/author/maxwell-swinney) \[fa icon="folder-open'\] [personal injury settlement](https://blog.amerihopealliance.com/personal-injury/topic/personal-injury-settlement) ![ShoulderFracture](https://blog.amerihopealliance.com/hs-fs/hubfs/images/ShoulderFracture.jpg?width=450&name=ShoulderFracture.jpg)How long will you need to go to medical treatment for an injury you received in an accident caused by someone else's negligence? Following an accident **you have to go to treatment for as long as your doctor, chiropractor, or other medical provider tells you to**, which will depend on the severity of your injuries. Everybody heals at a different rate, and there are a million different ways you could be injured, so it's not possible to say how long your treatment will take. You should **follow their orders exactly**, and not skip any appointments or fail to follow through on prescribed treatment, because that could jeopardize your odds of getting a fair settlement. ## Injury and Medical Treatment Let's say **you're in a car accident** when someone rear ends you after you stop suddenly to avoid something in the road. When the driver behind you impacts the back of your car, your head rapidly moves backward and then forward, causing some pain in your neck. **You don't think you're injured badly. What do you do? **  **First of all, call the police to the scene. When they come, do not admit fault, and make sure you get a copy of the accident report.** Even though you don't think you are seriously injured, you should still [go to the emergency room](https://blog.amerihopealliance.com/personal-injury/why-you-should-always-see-a-doctor-after-a-car-accident) to be evaluated. Some injuries to soft tissue get worse in the days and weeks after the accident. Failing to get treated immediately after the accident could cause you problems later on, so your medical treatment should start the day you get into an accident.  When you see a doctor, they may **perform tests, make a diagnosis, prescribe medications and recommend a treatment plan**. You should do what the doctor says, and keep documentation of everything. You'll need it later to get reimbursed from the insurance company. After your initial doctor's visit for an injury such as whiplash, you will probably need to **follow up with visits to a medical provider such as a chiropractor**. You'll need to go to treatment until it's determined that you've reached maximum medical improvement. ## Maximum Medical Improvement ![Following an accident you have to go to treatment for as long as your doctor, chiropractor, or other medical provider tells you to, which will depend on the severity of your injuries.](https://blog.amerihopealliance.com/hs-fs/hubfs/images/ClockChain.jpg?width=400&name=ClockChain.jpg)Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI) is when an injured person ***“reaches a state where his or her condition cannot be improved any further or when a treatment plateau in a person’s healing process is reached.”*** Reaching MMI doesn't mean you're back to normal, but it does mean that all treatment options have been exhausted. At this point, a person's level of ***“permanent or partial impairment is determined.”*** Most people reach MMI in a matter of months after their accident. **You have to reach maximum medical improvement before your case can be settled.** Otherwise, it wouldn't be known if you're going to have some level of permanent impairment or what your treatment will cost. ## Mitigating Damages You have a responsibility to mitigate damages even though the accident wasn't your fault. That just means that you are supposed to take reasonable steps to get better and not incur unnecessary costs. If you fail to take reasonable actions to mitigate your damages, you won't be able to recover the cost of the damages you could have prevented. For instance, let's say you go to the emergency room after an accident and the doctor tells you to see a chiropractor or physical therapist. **If you don't do it and your condition worsens because of that, the insurance company could lessen your damages by the amount that you could have mitigated by doing what you were supposed to. ** So it's important to **follow the doctor's orders**, not just to get better, but also so you are able to recover all the funds you should be able to recover. ## Getting A Personal Injury Attorney Dealing with the insurance company after an accident can be frustrating. They may try to offer you a pathetically small amount of money. You should consider retaining [an attorney to represent you](https://blog.amerihopealliance.com/personal-injury/how-do-you-find-a-car-accident-lawyer-in-ocala) in your personal injury claim. They **may be able to help you get more money than you could have on your own**. And personal injury attorneys don't have to be paid up front. They're compensated from the funds they recover for you. Again, if you've been injured in an accident, it's important to get medical treatment early and follow the doctor's orders. And don't give up on treatment! It could cause you problems later on.       [![New call-to-action](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/161513/a5a7acfb-ecfc-4135-9c17-634cc39f17b4.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/161513/a5a7acfb-ecfc-4135-9c17-634cc39f17b4)   Photo by Harlie Raethel on Unsplash - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) ![Maxwell Swinney](https://blog.amerihopealliance.com/hs-fs/hub/161513/file-397888097.jpg?width=100&height=100&name=file-397888097.jpg) #### Written by [Maxwell Swinney](https://blog.amerihopealliance.com/personal-injury/author/maxwell-swinney) ### About this Blog Amerihope Alliance Legal Services is a leading loan modification and foreclosure defense law firm with attorneys licensed in 5 states. We have helped over 7,000 homeowners fight back and keep their homes. [![Click to Read Our Super Loan Mod Success Stories](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/161513/ae6b7cd7-c502-4ee5-a643-cd8deff48953.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/161513/ae6b7cd7-c502-4ee5-a643-cd8deff48953) Our goal is to provide valuable information to help homeowners who are trying to obtain a loan modification or to stop foreclosure. You may schedule a [free consultation](https://www.amerihopealliance.com/free_consultation) at any time. ### Subscribe to Email Updates - Popular - Recent - Topics ![feature image](https://blog.amerihopealliance.com/hubfs/images/MedBills.jpg) [Who Pays Your Medical Bills If You're Injured In A Car Accident In Florida?](https://blog.amerihopealliance.com/personal-injury/who-pays-your-medical-bills-when-youre-injured-in-a-car-accident-in-florida) Published February 7, 2019 ![feature image](https://blog.amerihopealliance.com/hubfs/images/ClockChain.jpg) [How Long Do You Have To Get Medical Treatment After An Accident?](https://blog.amerihopealliance.com/personal-injury/how-long-do-i-have-to-go-to-medical-treatment-to-settle-my-personal-injury-case) Published August 19, 2018 ![feature image](https://blog.amerihopealliance.com/hubfs/images/DogCar.jpg) [What Can You Do If Your Dog Is Injured In A Car Accident?](https://blog.amerihopealliance.com/personal-injury/what-can-you-do-if-your-dog-or-cat-is-injured-in-a-car-accident) Published August 30, 2018 ![feature image](https://blog.amerihopealliance.com/hubfs/images/Memes/UberLyft.png) [What If You're Injured In An Uber or Lyft Accident?](https://blog.amerihopealliance.com/personal-injury/what-if-youre-injured-in-an-uber-or-lyft-accident) Published December 2, 2018 ![feature image](https://blog.amerihopealliance.com/hubfs/images/TextDrive.jpg) [Texting And Driving Makes Car Accidents More Likely](https://blog.amerihopealliance.com/personal-injury/texting-and-driving-makes-car-accidents-more-likely) Published December 23, 2018 ### Lists by Topic - [car accident (7)](https://blog.amerihopealliance.com/personal-injury/tag/car-accident) - [personal injury (4)](https://blog.amerihopealliance.com/personal-injury/tag/personal-injury) - [personal injury settlement (4)](https://blog.amerihopealliance.com/personal-injury/tag/personal-injury-settlement) - [Dog Is Injured In A Car Accident (1)](https://blog.amerihopealliance.com/personal-injury/tag/dog-is-injured-in-a-car-accident) - [distracted driving (1)](https://blog.amerihopealliance.com/personal-injury/tag/distracted-driving) - [medical bills (1)](https://blog.amerihopealliance.com/personal-injury/tag/medical-bills) - [negligence (1)](https://blog.amerihopealliance.com/personal-injury/tag/negligence) - [pain and suffering (1)](https://blog.amerihopealliance.com/personal-injury/tag/pain-and-suffering) - [personal injury attorney (1)](https://blog.amerihopealliance.com/personal-injury/tag/personal-injury-attorney) - [personal injury claim (1)](https://blog.amerihopealliance.com/personal-injury/tag/personal-injury-claim) - [personal injury protection (1)](https://blog.amerihopealliance.com/personal-injury/tag/personal-injury-protection) - [uber and lyft (1)](https://blog.amerihopealliance.com/personal-injury/tag/uber-and-lyft) see all [![New Call-to-action](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/161513/5a1cfa41-2f25-4042-be8d-84677e3a244d.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/161513/5a1cfa41-2f25-4042-be8d-84677e3a244d) ### Foreclosure Process Handbook ### Sitemap - [About](https://www.amerihopealliance.com/about_us) - [Case Results](https://legal.amerihopealliance.com/case-results) - [Free Consultation](https://www.amerihopealliance.com/free_consultation) - [Blog](https://blog.amerihopealliance.com) - [Client Login](https://www.amerihopealliance.com/client_login) ### Subscribe [![Do You Need To Hire A Foreclosure Attorney? 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