Can an MRI Increase Your Personal Injury Settlement in Nevada?

After a serious car accident, your primary focus should be on recovering from your injuries, but instead, you may find yourself battling with an insurance adjuster who downplays your injuries. Ultimately, the difference between a low settlement offer and full and fair compensation often comes down to objective medical evidence in the form of MRI results. An MRI can reveal injuries that are invisible on standard X-rays, providing the necessary medical documentation to significantly strengthen your personal injury claim. MRI results do not automatically increase the value of your case, but they can identify hidden injuries that will play a role when valuing your case. Seeking additional medical testing as well as speaking with a Las Vegas personal injury attorney are confidential, routine steps that protect both your health and your legal rights. Taking those steps early can make a substantial difference in the outcome of your claim. Contact Paul Padda Law by calling 866-526-7974 for a free, confidential review of your case.

Why Insurance Companies Downplay “Invisible” Injuries

Insurance companies frequently question injuries that cannot be seen immediately after an accident, typically categorizing them as “soft tissue” injuries regardless of the amount of pain a victim experiences. Based on initial emergency room records indicating no fractures or other obvious traumatic injuries, the insurance company may argue that your injuries are relatively minor. When that is the case, advanced diagnostic imaging may be necessary to prove the severity of your injuries.

The Limits of X-Rays and the Emergency Room

The focus of an emergency department is on identifying life-threatening conditions and other medical emergencies requiring immediate intervention, such as broken bones, internal bleeding, and organ damage. If your X-rays do not show such injuries, you may be discharged with instructions to follow up “if symptoms worsen.” The problem is that common motor vehicle collision injuries, such as herniated discs, torn ligaments, and even spinal cord injuries will not show up on an X-ray.

What an MRI Actually Proves in a Nevada Injury Claim

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) provides physicians with highly detailed images of soft tissues that cannot be adequately evaluated through traditional X-rays, allowing them to identify injuries such as spinal cord injuries, nerve compression, traumatic brain injuries, and muscle tears. MRI results can help explain why your symptoms have persisted and why continued treatment is medically necessary.

If you’re fighting with an insurance adjuster about your pain, you don’t have to do it alone. Contact us for a confidential case review.

How an MRI Directly Impacts Your Settlement Value

Although obtaining an MRI does not guarantee a higher settlement, the results can provide crucial evidence that strengthens and supports your claim. When negotiating a settlement, insurance adjusters evaluate risk and the more persuasive your medical evidence is, the greater the risk of a significant damages award at trial. Consequently, strong diagnostic evidence encourages adjusters to offer a fair settlement to avoid trial.

Shifting from Subjective Pain to Objective Evidence

Pain is real, but because pain is difficult to objectively measure, insurance companies often argue that your symptoms are exaggerated or unrelated to the collision. An MRI helps shift the discussion from subjective complaints to objective medical evidence. When diagnostic imaging identifies a herniated disc, torn ligament, nerve compression, or other structural injury, the insurance company can no longer dismiss your symptoms.

Factoring in Future Medical Care and Lost Earning Capacity

An MRI may also reveal injuries that will require treatment long after your case is settled, allowing you to include those future expenses in your settlement demand.

How Do I Pay for an MRI if I Don’t Have the Cash Upfront?

Many accident victims recognize they need additional diagnostic testing but hesitate because of the high cost of an MRI. Fortunately, paying for an MRI out of pocket is not always necessary. Our personal injury attorneys work with medical providers to arrange for necessary imaging using a medical lien or Nevada MedPay.

Using Medical Liens and MedPay in Nevada

Nevada offers optional Medical Payments Coverage, commonly referred to as MedPay, when purchasing automobile liability insurance. If you have MedPay, it may help pay for certain medical expenses, including diagnostic testing, regardless of who caused the accident.

If you do not have MedPay, we may be able to arrange for an MRI using a medical lien. A medical lien is an arrangement wherein a medical provider agrees to provide services, such as an MRI, but payment is deferred until your case is resolved.

Worried about how to pay for your imaging? We can help connect you with trusted Las Vegas medical providers who require no upfront out-of-pocket costs. Call us today.

The Danger of the “Gap in Treatment” Trap

One of the most common mistakes accident victims make is waiting weeks or even months before seeking additional medical treatment, thinking or even hoping that the pain will simply disappear.  Not only does a delay in treatment allow injuries to worsen, but it allows the insurance company to argue that your injuries were not serious or that they resulted from an unrelated event occurring after the accident.

Why You Need an Elite Las Vegas Legal Team on Your Side

While MRI evidence can increase the value of your personal injury claim, that evidence must be effectively utilized during negotiations or at trial. At Paul Padda Law, every case is prepared as though it will ultimately be presented to a jury, ensuring that MRI results are strategically used to support full and fair compensation. Moreover, as a former federal prosecutor, Paul Padda has extensive courtroom experience that ultimately benefits injured clients.

Let a former federal prosecutor protect your rights. Schedule your free, no-obligation consultation today.

FAQs

Do I really need an MRI if my X-ray was completely clear after my car crash?

Possibly. Many injuries do not show up on X-rays, making an MRI a wise medical and legal move in many situations.

Will my car accident settlement go up if I have an MRI showing a bulging or herniated disc?

Probably. A bulging or herniated disc can be a serious injury that will likely increase the value of your case.

How do I pay for an expensive MRI in Las Vegas if I don’t have health insurance or cash?

Our attorneys can review your own insurance policy to see if MedPay is an option. If not, we can likely arrange for a medical lien that covers your MRI.

Can the at-fault driver’s insurance company force me to use their own radiologist?

No. You have the right to choose your medical providers.

How long should I wait after an accident to get an MRI if my back still hurts?

You should arrange for an MRI as soon as possible after a motor vehicle accident if you are experiencing back pain.

How much does a personal injury lawyer cost if I don’t have any money upfront?

Nothing. We work on a contingency fee basis, meaning we only charge a fee if we win your case.

What is the average settlement for a whiplash or soft tissue injury in Nevada?

Every case is unique. The best way to find out what your case might be worth is to schedule a free consultation.

Can I get a cash advance on my settlement while I’m out of work waiting for my MRI results?

There are companies that offer “pre-settlement” funding. Because eligibility criteria vary, you need to reach out to them directly to find out if you qualify.