What If My Primary Care Doctor Won’t See Me for My Car Accident Injuries?
After a car accident, many people assume their first stop should be their regular primary care doctor (PCP). But surprisingly, a lot of primary care doctors refuse to treat car accident injuries. It happens every single day, and most patients have no idea why.
If your PCP won’t see you for accident-related pain, you’re not alone—and you still have options.
Why Primary Care Doctors Often Refuse Accident Cases
There are a few reasons why primary care doctors tend to avoid treating crash-related injuries:
1. They don’t want to deal with auto insurance billing
Most PCPs are set up to bill health insurance only.
Car accident cases involve:
Auto insurance
Liability insurance
Med-pay
Third-party billing
Potential litigation
PCPs simply don’t want to get involved with the paperwork.
2. They aren’t trained in trauma-based injury care
Your PCP is excellent for general health issues—but most are not trained to diagnose or treat:
Whiplash injuries
Disc herniations
Radiculopathy
Soft-tissue trauma
Biomechanical spine injuries
They may miss critical findings or fail to order the right tests.
3. They don’t properly document for legal cases
Even if your PCP agrees to see you, they may not know how to:
Document mechanism of injury
Establish causation
Record functional limitations
Write proper treatment records for an injury claim
This lack of documentation can significantly decrease your settlement value.
A Personal Injury Attorney Can Get You Proper Treatment
If your primary doctor won't treat you, one of the biggest advantages of hiring a personal injury attorney is that they can immediately connect you with the right medical providers.
How it works: Treatment on a "Letter of Protection" (LOP)
A Letter of Protection, also called a lien, is an agreement that:
The doctor treats you now
They get paid later from the settlement
You don’t pay anything upfront
These doctors are experienced in treating accident victims. They understand:
How car-accident injuries actually happen
What imaging (MRI, CT, diagnostics) is needed
How to properly document your injuries
How to show causation between the crash and your pain
This documentation is critical to proving your case.
Why LOP/PI Doctors Are Often Better for Accident Injuries
Doctors who regularly treat car accident patients provide several benefits:
1. They understand biomechanics and trauma
They know how the spine moves during impact, how whiplash affects soft tissues, and how to identify injuries your PCP might overlook.
2. They know which treatments are appropriate
They can guide you through:
Conservative care (PT, chiropractic)
Pain management
Injections
Specialists
Surgery if needed
This follows the medically recognized treatment ladder.
3. They document injuries the proper way
Insurance companies rely heavily on medical documentation. LOP doctors are trained to:
Establish causation
Record objective findings
Track progress
Describe impairment
Show medical necessity
This can dramatically increase the value of your claim.
