New from Lewkovich: Common errors made
by Defense Chiropractic Examiners
and what to look for

What steps do you need to think about when the insurance company sends your patient to a Chiropractic insurance doctor? If the insurance doctor is unethical, he will ruthlessly attack your evaluation and treatment.

Some of the usual ploys used against the treating DC by Insurance Medical Examiners include:

1.   Inadequate physical examination
2.   Medical records inconsistency
3.   Current symptoms are pre-existing
4.   6 – 12 weeks “normal” healing time
5.   Failure to consider complicating factors

Ask johntawlian@shawnsteel.com for a copy of Lewkovich’s cogent responses and tactics.


New Shawn Steel PI Survey
Q:   About what percent of your PI Patients have moderate to significant pre-existing medical problems?

Click button below to take the survey:




You know this: One-Third of the nation’s
worst traffic bottlenecks are in the LA Area

Bottlenecks always create unnecessary car accidents. Usually rear-end collisions. It’s predictable and avoidable. But the Sacramento politicians would rather you ride rail, walk or bike. Most humans cannot do that. We need better freeways.

Sadly, for years to come millions of hard working commuters will suffer hundreds of thousands of accidents – unnecessarily.

For a list of the infamous intersections contact johntawlian@shawnsteel.com



FREE MONTHLY PI TELECONFERENCE



Wednesday, December 9 @ 1:00 PM Sharp!

Are you ready
PI ICD-10 Diagnosis Revolution?

Our guest:
Sam Collins, Billing Expert

E-mail johntawlian@shawnsteel.com for telephone number and pass code.





Best PI Trial of the Month
Auto Rear-ender – Riverside County

Francisco was rear-ended in Coachella by a company truck. Francisco experienced intense pain later in the day. Two days later he saw a chiropractor. The DC noted bruising over his chest area. A MRI was ordered by the DC after continuous pain. After the DC reviewed the MRI he sent his patient to a neurosurgeon who opined he would need lumbar fusion surgery.

Francisco is a hard working chef and could not afford to take time off for surgery. He could no longer ride his bicycle. Many other ADL’s were curtailed.

Francisco demanded $74,999 to settle. Liberty Mutual countered with only $15,000.

The jury found for Francisco for $15,000 in past medical expenses, $223,600 for future surgery, $10,000 for past pain and suffering and $10,000 for future pain and suffering for a total verdict: $258,600.

Romero v Cali Built Construction, Riverside Superior Court, Hon. John Vineyard- INC 1304569, April 23, 2015.

PRACTICE TIPS:
1.   The DC used best practices. When the patient was suffering he ordered an MRI which showed protruding discs.
2.   The DC then referred Francisco to a prominent neurosurgeon—who recommended surgery.
3.   No surgery took place
4.   The jury believed that Francisco might need surgery – that alone justified the excellent verdict.

 

Tough Break in Sacramento
Cynthia was stopped for a traffic light in Sacramento when she was rear-ended. Her car was not towed; neither was the defendant’s car. Cynthia claimed she suffered ongoing mid back pain and was referred to an orthopedic surgeon.

Defendant admitted liability but claimed Cynthia was not really injured.

Cynthia asked the Court for $213,000 based on $36,521 in medical expenses for multiple anesthetic shots to her joints.

The jury came back with only $15,114.

Little vs. Byrd, Sacramento Superior Court, Hon. Alan Perkins, 2012-00128604

PRACTICE TIPS:
❖   Juries do not like exaggeration or overreaching.
❖   There must be a compelling story.
❖   The car damage was minor
❖   No ambulance
❖   No Emergency room
❖   Limited chiropractic visits
❖   Lot of trigger point injections.

Mid Back Injuries for rear-enders are uncommon.