1. Seek treatment immediately to reduce the likelihood of healing wrong permanently
2. Treat the inflammation immediately
3. Do not take medications for more than a few days they inhibit collagen the healing tissue from forming.
4. Start physical medicine as soon as possible to allow for proper healing within the joints
5. Be aware there are three types of motion to be restored after an injury: active-like exercise, passive-like a therapist, joint motion-chiropractic adjustment
6. Be aware there are 3 phases to healing: inflammation-takes 72 hours, repair phase-takes 6 to 12 weeks, remodel phase-3 to 12 months.
7. Healing does not start until after the inflammation phase is reduced why it is critical to control the inflammation
8. The repair phase is when the healing begins and starts with 72 hours of the injury and last up to 12 weeks thereafter.
9. The repair phase of healing is a short window of time after an injury where the healing tissue is laid down to repair the damaged tissue. That tissue is called collagen.
10. If during the repair phase of healing the healing tissue called collagen is not properly treated with physical medicine the chances of a permanent injury are significantly increased.
11. One factor during the healing phase after an injury is collagen formation. If the collagen is not treated properly it will heal only 70% as strong as the original tissue leading to the likelihood of future injury.
12. One factor during the healing phase after an injury is collagen formation. If the collagen is not properly treated with it will heal with less elasticity and mobility than the original tissue, this leads to stiffness and restriction in that area in the future.
13. One factor during the healing phase after an injury is collagen formation. If the collagen is not properly treated with physical medicine there will be an increase number of peripheral nerves leading to permanent pain in that area.
14. One factor during the healing phase after an injury is collagen formation. If the collagen is not properly treated with physical medicine the nerves heal more sensitive. This leads to pain in the injured area in the future.
15. During the repair phase of healing which last from 3 days to 12 weeks after an injury be sure to have physical medicine applied to the affected area.
16. During the healing phase do not just take medications for the treatment of the injury. Medications such as anti-inflammatory and cortisones based medications will inhibit the healing tissue collagen from forming leading to weak and stiff tissue.

1. Must file traffic accident report
2. Hire an attorney
3. Go to the emergency room or doctor office as soon as possible after injury
4. Follow up with your doctor appointments
5. Make all your diagnostic appointments even if you feel better
6. Make sure the doctor knows any and all restrictions due to accident
7. See more than one doctor, get second opinion
8. Hire attorney that is a certified trial attorney
9. Only use attorney that specializes in PI case's
10. Make sure that attorney will handle your case not an associate
11. Ask your attorney when was the last time he went to court for a PI case
12. Is the attorney law license up to date and does he have malpractice insurance
13. Does your attorney have any bar complaints against them
14. Get any names of witness
15. Be sure the exact mechanism of injury is taken at your doctor's office including weather conditions, road conditions, wearing seat belt, position of your body on impact.
16. Be sure to have diagnostic test run especially those test which test your injured area range of motion, muscle strength test, reflexes, sensation, stationary x-rays and motion x-rays, MRI if needed.
17. Your doctor knows how to give an AMA impairment rating
18. Your doctor is willing to testify in court if needed
19. Reexaminations are performed to document healing or permanent injury
20. Second opinions from different types of doctors that specialize in PI cases: neurosurgeon, neurologist, GP in physical medicine, chiropractor, physical therapist
21. Any days off from work due to injury
22. Any restrictions from work due to injury
23. Do not miss your doctor's appointments even if you feel better
24. Be sure your attorney sign an attorney lien for each of your doctors to insure you get the proper medical reports needed for your case
25. Your PI attorney know how to apply the AMA impairment guides
26. Require your attorney to not settle the case until the doctor has released you from care
27. Ask your doctor for an impairment of the injury after the care is completed
28. All your doctors have the findings for all your diagnostic tests and each other's medical records
29. Be sure to have pre and post diagnostic test and compare the differences this helps to establish is you have a permanent injury
30. The best test to document your injury: MRI, motion x-rays, nerve conduction velocity test, digital muscle strength test, digital range of motion test
31. Maintain open communication with your doctors and attorney and ensure they are communication with each other
32. Hire an attorney that will sign an attorneys lien by all your doctors, they are needed for your doctors to get paid and their corporation
33. Hire an attorney that will take your case on contingency
34. Hire an attorney that charges the same percentage that the other attorneys in the area charge
35. Hire an attorney that has taken a PI case to court in the last year.
36. Hire an attorney that will not settle your case without your consent
37. Hire an attorney that has won a PI case in court

1. Not file police report
2. Not report the accident to insurance company fear of rate increase
3. Sign early settlement with insurance company
4. Refuse to go to the hospital or see a doctor immediately after the injury
5. Miss appointments with doctors
6. Not Hire attorney
7. Believe it will just go away
8. Take medication for weeks and months
9. Not seek physical medicine such as chiropractor or physical therapist
10. Wait past 72 hours to see a doctor
11. Hire relative who is attorney that does not do PI cases
12. Not get second opinion
13. Not follow doctors instructions
14. Not see specialist for that type of injury
15. Not document the extent of the injury with diagnostic test because you feel better

This is the eighth most common mistake that PI attorneys make when referring PI patients to Doctors.
Doctors who are not familiar with Colossus and the five primary financial drivers of:
1.      Diagnosis
2.      Impairment
3.      Loss of enjoyment of life
4.      Duties of duress
5.      Prognosis

Doctors who fail to:
1.      Consult and document toward Colossus and Colossus type software.
2.      Order proper diagnostic procedures necessary document and substantiate each of the categories
3.      Create notes, reports and narratives based on Colossus or Colossus type software

What does this mean to you:
1.      Will make your work harder and hurt your PI compensation.
How you benefit from referring PI patients to SF Chiropractic and Rehab Center.

Our entire PI case management is based on discovery and documenting the five primary drivers, performing all necessary testing and form notes, reports and narratives based on Colossus or Colossus type software to help maximize your PI financial compensation.

Give us a call and we'll share with  you how our office utilizes the standard of the auto industry  Colossus software for PI compensation. Call at (813) 350-9100 before you get to busy.

this is the seventh most common mistake that PI attorneys make when referring PI patients to Doctors.
Not knowing that the prognosis is the fifth major PI compensation driver.

Prognosis categories in Colossus:
1.      Resolution undetermined
2.      No complaint/No further treatment required
3.      Complaint/No Further treatment required
4.      Complaint/Further treatment required
5.      Guarded: Should only given when a condition is serious and unstable, may deteriorate.

Most injuries will suffer some form of pain, restriction, limitation or deteriorate.
This is based on the facts of the repair phase of healing and that no repair collagen is ever 100% normal after an injury.

What this means to you:
1.      Because the prognosis is the fifth most important financial driver in Colossus and Colossus type auto industry software, a doctor not understanding the three phases of healing will give a uneducated prognosis and hurt your PI financial compensation.

How you benefit from referring PI patients to SF Chiropractic and Rehab Center.

We not only know the principles of Colossus and the Colossus type software the auto industry uses, our entire PI case management is based on discovery and documenting the five primary drivers to help you maximize your PI financial compensation including prognosis.

Give us a call and we'll share with  you how our office utilizes the standard of the auto industry  Colossus software for PI compensation. Call at (813) 350-9100 before you get to busy.