Finding treatment for your back injury after a car accident can seem somewhat overwhelming, particularly if you are dealing with understanding personal injury protection (PIP) in New Jersey and how it affects you. To help you through the process, the following information will discuss questions you may wish to bring up with your PIP doctor at your next appointment, as well as a brief overview of PIP insurance in New Jersey.
About PIP Insurance
Nearly every driver who owns a registered, insured vehicle in the State of New Jersey must purchase a special type of auto insurance called PIP (no-fault) insurance. This insurance will pay for your medical expenses when you are injured in an accident involving an automobile.
It is called no-fault insurance because your expenses are paid by your own insurance company no matter who is at fault for the accident. This is why New Jersey is referred to as a no-fault state. Despite this insurance requirement, keep in mind that you may still be able to pursue a claim against a negligent driver through the legal system.
Questions to Ask your PIP Doctor
Whether you are just beginning to see your doctor for your post-accident back pain or are still trying to find the right PIP doctor for you, you may wish to consider asking your doctor some of these frequently asked questions. You may find they address concerns you hadn’t previously considered, or they may help you put into words questions you have had in the back of your mind but haven’t asked yet.
1. How Does PIP Insurance Impact My Spinal Injury Treatment?
If your doctor’s office employs an insurance benefits specialist, he or she is probably the best person to have a conversation with about your PIP insurance. It’s important to know whether or not the doctor’s office accepts auto insurance as the primary provider. If they do not and this presents a problem, you may wish to contact your insurance company to find a personal injury protection doctor in New Jersey to treat your back injury.
Remember, your medical treatment is going to be covered by your PIP insurance policy in most cases. If you do not own a vehicle, you may be covered by someone else’s policy, such as a family member you live with, the driver of a vehicle you were a passenger in or a special program called New Jersey Property-Liability Insurance Guaranty Association (NJPLIGA).
2. What Experience Do You Have Treating Back Injuries Following an Accident?
Ideally, you will want to be treated by a doctor who has experience treating spinal injuries that result from trauma. Sometimes you can get an idea of your doctor’s experience by reading online reviews and patient testimonials, but you can also ask him or her directly.
If you feel like your doctor does not have the experience to treat your back pain or injury, you may wish to consider treatment elsewhere.
3. What Is Your Overall Treatment Approach?
Different doctors have different outlooks when it comes to treating patients. Some favor more aggressive treatment, while others prefer a more conservative approach and reserve surgical treatments for when no other options are available. Unfortunately, it is common for doctors to develop tunnel vision and only recommend procedures he or she performs often, such as surgery, when other treatments may be available.
As you are discussing your doctor’s treatment approach, listen to words he or she uses. Does it seem like this doctor develops treatment plans based on an individual’s needs, or does he or she adopt more of a “one size fits all” methodology? It’s important you feel comfortable with your treatment and that your needs are being met, so if you do not get that impression, it may be in your interest to seek out another doctor.
4. What Patient Benefits Does Your Office Offer?
Some practices have additional benefits available to patients that can help you before, during and following your spinal injury treatment. One great resource is an insurance benefits specialist, as mentioned earlier. Insurance benefits specialists are employees dedicated to helping you navigate your insurance policy. These experts can help you better understand your coverage and are especially helpful when dealing with PIP insurance policies.
Another potential benefit is if the doctor’s office employs an on-call nurse who is available 24 hours a day to answer your questions over the telephone or through live chat on a website. This can be particularly helpful in the days leading up to or following your spinal injury treatment.
5. How Do You Make Patients Feel Comfortable?
Your comfort throughout the treatment process is important, and it can be nice to know that your doctor takes that into consideration. This question has no “right” answer, but you will be able to use your doctor’s response to gauge whether or not he or she has a patient-centric approach and is concerned with your individual care.
Your Injury, Your Treatment
If you have been injured in an automobile accident, you should have confidence in the treatment you are receiving. If at any point you do not feel comfortable with the answers your doctor has provided to these common concerns, you may wish to look for another personal injury protection doctor in New Jersey. It’s important you have that peace of mind so you can focus on what matters most: your recovery.
