Jeff's Idea Lab Blog

If you’re injured in a car accident, you have a medical problem. Who do you see when you have a medical problem? A medical doctor, of course.

In BC, the family doctor is at the hub of the medical wheel. Or, to put it another way, your family doctor is the gatekeeper of the medical system.

It’s the family doctor who sees you the most. It’s your family doctor who decides whether you need medication. It’s your family doctor who says whether or not you need physiotherapy, massage therapy, chiropractic treatment, x-rays, etc. And it’s also your family doctor who will determine if you will see a specialist.

To make a long story short, your family doctor can make or break your ICBC injury claim.

What type of doctor do you have?

Does your doctor take the time to listen to your description of how your injuries have affected you? Is your doctor recommending treatment that will assist you in recovering from your injuries? Has your doctor considered referring you to a specialist if your injuries don’t seem to be improving after several months?

If so, you’re in luck. It sounds like you have a family doctor who has your best interests at heart. And when push comes to shove, this type of a doctor will usually give you a fair shake when it comes to preparing a report concerning your injury claim.

Has your family doctor said that he/she thinks people who make ICBC injury claims are often trying to “milk the system”? Does your family doctor rush you in and out of the office without taking the time to listen to you? Is your family doctor unwilling to recommend any form of treatment? Is your family doctor unwilling to refer you to a specialist despite the fact that several months have passed since your accident and your injuries aren’t improving?

If this describes your family doctor, you’re in big trouble. Firstly, it’s questionable as to whether or not your doctor is genuinely concerned with your recovery (yeah, I know, I’m putting it nicely). But more to the point, this is the type of doctor that will put the knife in your back when it comes time to prepare a medical report to be submitted to ICBC.

The trick as far as your family doctor is concern, is to figure out real early on in the game which category he/she falls into.

Is he/she Dr. Jekyll or Mr. Hyde?

If your doctor is the latter I’d suggest that you run, not walk, out their office door and quickly find one who genuinely has your best interests at heart.