One of the initial questions faced by the victims of other’s negligence is whether they should seek medical attention.
While the answer to this question is driven by the facts of the particular incident (i.e. the age of the victim, site of the injury, degree of trauma, etc.), early and appropriate medical care will frequently hasten the recovery from a personal injury. This is particularly true when one is suffering from a soft tissue injury. A strain/sprain often results in swelling which aggravate the nerves and muscles at the injury site resulting in pain. Once the pain sets in at the injury site, it becomes a self perpetuating problem as any irritation of the site will act to increase the duration and/or the intensity of the pain which will in turn limit one’s ability to use the injured area. In this situation the pain acts as a protective mechanism for the body as it causes one to reduce the use of the injured area which will theoretically allow the body to heal. Early medical care can address this cycle of pain, potentially reducing swelling early on, breaking cycle of pain and impairment before it becomes chronic. For this reason, we urge our personal injury clients to seek medical attention early, provide a full and accurate history to the physician, an accurate description of the cause and extent of their problems. Once a physician has been provided with the information concerning the injury he or she is then in a position to recommend a course of treatment which has the best probability of promoting a quick and full recovery. A delay in seeking medical care may allow the symptoms to become chronic and more difficult to treat. So, if there is a question as to whether medical care should be sought, err on the safe side and seek medical treatment. If medical care will not assist recovery the doctor will let you know; however, in all likelihood it will it will put an injured person on the road recovery faster with less chance of setback.
Rick Shapiro has practiced personal injury law for over 30 years in Virginia, North Carolina, and throughout the Southeastern United States. He is a Board-Certified Civil Trial Advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy (ABA Accredited) and has litigated injury cases throughout the eastern United States, including wrongful death, trucking, faulty products, railroad, and medical negligence claims. During his three-decade career, Shapiro has won client appeals before the VA Supreme Court, VA Court of Appeals, NC Supreme Court, SC Supreme Court, WV Supreme Court, TN Supreme Court, and three times before the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, underscoring Shapiro’s trial achievements. In addition, he and his law firm have won settlements/verdicts in excess of $100 million. His success in and out of the courtroom is a big reason why he was named 2019 “Lawyer of the Year” in railroad law in U.S. News & World Report's Best Lawyers publication (Norfolk, VA area), and he has been named a “Best Lawyer” and “Super Lawyer” by those peer-reviewed organizations for multiple years. Rick was also named a “Leader in the Law, Class of 2022” by Virginia Lawyers Weekly (total of 33 statewide honorees consisting of lawyers and judges across Virginia). And in September 2023, Rick was selected as a recipient of the National Board of Trial Advocacy (NBTA) 2023 President’s Award. Although many nominations were submitted from across the country, Rick was just one of eight attorneys chosen by the prestigious National Board which certifies civil trial attorneys across the U.S. Rick was also recently named to Virginia Lawyers Weekly 2024 Virginia’s Go To Lawyers Medical Malpractice. The attorneys awarded this honor are nominated by their colleagues and chosen by a panel from the publication.
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