The most common personal injury cases that most lawyers see are motor vehicle accidents, medical malpractice, product liabilities, workplace accidents, and premises liability. Most personal injury cases take between 20 and 31 months on average.
But you’re at high risk of serious injuries when you’re involved in a car accident. These injuries range from broken bones to more life-threatening ones like punctured lungs. You must seek treatment immediately if you’ve been injured in a motor vehicle accident.
If you’ve sustained an injury that requires a shoulder surgeon, keep reading because here’s what you need to know about choosing the right surgeon for the job.
What Is a Personal Injury Case?
If you’re unfamiliar with filing lawsuits, you may need help understanding a personal injury case. A personal injury case is a civil action filed with the courts. This case is filed by the person injured in the incident and is against the party responsible.
You can only win a personal injury case if you prove that the defendant is responsible for your injuries. For example, if they were not paying attention to the road, were negligent, or were at fault in any way.
The purpose of the personal injury lawsuit is to recoup any expenses paid due to the accident. These expenses include lost wages, medical expenses, and pain and suffering. The court determines the amount you receive in financial compensation if the case still needs to be settled.
Doctors on Liens
No one expects to be in a severe accident, so often people aren’t prepared for the expenses involved. Doctors on liens will provide you with treatment for injuries sustained in an accident, such as a motor vehicle collision, even when you’re waiting on a court settlement decision.
Medical liens allow you to receive the treatment you need when needed, while the doctor claims for reimbursement directly. With a lien settlement, there are no hidden fees, specialty fees, or extra charges.
How to Choose a Shoulder Surgeon for Your Case
If you’ve sustained an injury that requires a shoulder surgeon, you may need help finding a surgeon. You want to ensure you’re getting the best surgeon you can afford or look for a shoulder surgeon on a lien. Here are a few things that can help your search.
1. Check Their Experience
One of the first things you should consider when choosing a shoulder surgeon is their experience. While a new surgeon may be a good surgeon, you want to ensure the one you select specializes in shoulder surgery.
Finding a surgeon who has done shoulder operations several times will give you more peace of mind than a new surgeon. When your chosen surgeon has a good amount of experience, you know they can handle any complications that arise.
2. Board Certified Surgeons
Another thing you can look for in a shoulder surgeon is whether or not they’re board certified. You want to find a surgeon specializing in hand surgery and preferably has received a Subspecialty Certificate in Surgery of the Hand.
This accreditation means they have undergone extensive training and they are board certified. A surgeon is board certified and has a subspecialty certification typically means they’re dedicated to providing the highest quality care.
3. Do a Background Check
Wherever possible, do a background check on any shoulder surgeons you’re considering. Not only can this confirm their credentials, such as their board certification, etc., but it also can bring to light any malpractice claims they may have outstanding. You want to ensure your surgeon has no disciplinary actions against their record.
To check a doctor’s background and credentials, you can visit the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB) website and use their search feature. You can review the doctor’s certifications, active licenses, education, and outstanding actions against them.
4. Arrange a Consultation
We rely on first impressions a lot in everyday life, so schedule a consultation with your surgeon to get a feel for them face-to-face. You will also see the clinic’s atmosphere, average wait times, staff friendliness, and communication skills. From this, you’ll know if it’s a surgery you want to check yourself into.
You can use this meeting to ask questions and get more detailed information about your upcoming surgery if you need one. You can also learn more about the recovery experience to understand what to expect. You want the surgeon to take your questions seriously and answer respectfully.
5. Get Referrals
Another way to choose a shoulder surgeon after your injury is to ask for referrals. Your primary care physician (PCP) can help you with this and can be especially helpful if you have health insurance.
Check with your insurance if you need a referral for your surgery to be covered. Your PCP makes hundreds of referrals monthly, so you can trust they have partnered with top-quality medical professionals.
You can also ask your friends and family if they can make recommendations. If they’ve undergone the same surgery you need, you can ask them questions about the surgeon, office, bedside manner, and aftercare treatment.
6. Read Reviews
Finally, our final tip for choosing the right shoulder surgeon is to go online and read any reviews that previous patients may have left. People often feel emboldened when behind a computer screen, so you can generally rely on the reviews being written honestly.
Not everyone leaves reviews, so most of the reviews you see will either be heavily in favor of the surgeon or heavily against them, depending on their experience. Help someone else, and remember to leave your own review after your surgery.
Find the Best Shoulder Surgeon Today
Surgery is a significant event in one’s life, so it’s essential to be 100% comfortable with the shoulder surgeon operating. If you’re waiting on a settlement and don’t have the money to proceed with a necessary surgery, you can look into a healthcare lien, which may also be able to include a pain management specialist.
Find a doctor today if you’re looking for a trustworthy medical lien service. We service attorneys across the USA and personally vet our personal injury lien doctors.