When you've been involved in a car accident, and you're not the one at fault, one of the most significant issues you could deal with is the failure to diagnose an injury that was the result of the accident. Although the use of methods such as X-Rays and CT scans can reveal a lot, there are still other issues that they may not reveal.

Some of these issues could result in bigger health problems later, and they can cost you a lot of money to treat. MRI imaging can be used to detect injuries that other methods may not uncover.

How Can You Get an MRI?

Many people assume that the doctor attending to them will recommend every test that is required to determine the extent of their injuries. However, this isn't always the case. MRI scans can be very costly and many healthcare providers would rather the use the money from the Personal Injury Protection (PIP) to cover other medical expenses. Therefore, they may not recommend an MRI unless they believe it's necessary.

However, you can also request to have an MRI scan if you wish to thoroughly evaluate any injury you may have suffered in an accident. This will ensure your claim to the insurance company is accurate.

What Can an MRI Scan Reveal?

MRI scans are good at revealing injuries that other methods may have missed such as soft tissue injuries. Some of the injuries an MRI will reveal include:    

• Stress fractures: These can be easily missed when taken early

• Rotator cuff tear    

• Herniated disc    

• A brain injury

Herniated discs are a common silent injury with whiplash. And, without proper herniated disc treatment, these injuries can continue to cause pain for years to come. This, in itself, is an important reason to see a doctor and get the right imaging to rule out herniated discs and other severe spinal injuries.

Who Will Pay for the MRI?

This is an important question to ask yourself because an MRI can be very expensive. If it doesn't add any value to your claim, it may reduce your PIP coverage. Many insurance companies will not pay up front for you to get an MRI because they're not legally required to do so. However, it is advisable to get the MRI done as quickly as possible for it to help your case. Therefore, if you believe the MRI will impact your claims, you shouldn't wait for the insurance company to pay for it.

To learn more, contact a company like Southwest Florida Neurosurgical & Rehab Associates.