If you’re a Florida resident who has been in a car accident, you may be wondering if you need to seek medical care. Unfortunately, many people choose not to seek treatment after a car accident, even if they are injured. This can be a big mistake, as failing to receive medical care can lead to long-term health problems.
In this blog post, we’ll discuss why it’s important to always seek medical care after a car accident in Florida. We’ll also provide tips on how to find the right doctor and receive the best possible treatment. So read on for more information!
The Cliff Notes: Key Takeaways From This Post
We listed reasons to seek medical care after a car accident in Florida; however, here are the key bullet points if you are in a rush:
- People may not seek medical care after a car accident due to lack of immediate symptoms, feeling overwhelmed, or lack of health insurance.
- Florida’s 14-day PIP rule requires drivers to seek medical care within two weeks of the accident in order to file a claim.
- Noncompliance with the treatment plan could hurt chances of receiving compensation for an injury claim.
- It is important to seek medical care as soon as possible after an accident and ask questions about the treatment plan.
- Gaps in treatment can have a negative impact on injury claims.
- Medical expenses are viewed as evidence in car accident cases and should be pursued when applicable.
- Free consultations with experienced car accident attorneys can provide helpful insights into settling injury claims.
3 Common Reasons People Don’t Seek Medical Care After a Car Accident
1) Lack of Immediate Symptoms Indicating an Injury
The first reason people don’t seek medical care after a car accident is that they don’t have any immediate symptoms or feel injured. People often think that if they don’t feel pain, they must not be hurt. However, many injuries don’t cause pain until days or even weeks after the accident. It’s important to get checked out by a doctor even if you feel fine, in order to make sure you haven’t suffered any hidden injuries.
2) Feeling Overwhelmed After a Car Accident
Another reason people don’t seek medical care immediately after a car accident is that they are overwhelmed in the aftermath of the accident. This is especially common for those who have just been in a crash involving serious injury or death. It can be difficult to think straight and make decisions in this kind of situation. It’s important to remember that seeking medical care is one of the most important things you can do right now.
3) Don’t Have Any Health Insurance
Another common reason people avoid seeking medical care after an accident is that they don’t have health insurance and are worried about the cost of medical care. Even if you don’t have health insurance, it’s still important to seek medical attention after a car accident. Many hospitals will provide treatment regardless of the ability to pay, and there are
Florida’s 14-Day PIP Rule
Florida has a 14-day Personal Injury Protection (PIP) rule, which requires drivers to seek medical care within two weeks of a car accident. If you do not seek medical care within 14 days, you may not be able to file a PIP claim. PIP insurance covers your medical expenses, regardless of who is at fault in the accident. Florida is a no-fault state, which means that each driver’s PIP insurance pays for their own medical expenses, up to the $10,000 limit.
If you have been in a car accident, it is important to seek medical care as soon as possible. Even if you feel fine immediately after the accident, you may have hidden injuries that will only become apparent later on. It is always better to be safe and get checked out by a doctor just in case. Florida’s 14-day PIP rule exists to ensure that people who are injured in car accidents receive the medical care they need right away. If you wait too long to seek medical treatment, your injuries may become worse and you may not be able to file a PIP claim.
If you have been in a car accident, there are a few things you can do to make sure you are compliant with Florida’s 14-day PIP rule:
- See a doctor within 14 days of the accident, even if you feel fine.
- Get all recommended follow-up care, including any diagnostic testing or physical therapy.
- Keep track of all your medical expenses, including bills, receipts, and prescriptions.
What PIP Covers If You Have Car Accident Injuries
If you are injured in a car accident in Florida, your Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance will cover your medical expenses and lost wages. PIP will also cover the costs of hiring a personal injury lawyer if you decide to file a claim against the other driver.
Serious Complications May Arise If You Delay Treatment After an Accident
When you are in a car accident, it is important to seek medical care as soon as possible. This is because there are serious complications that may arise if someone delays medical treatment. Some of these complications include:
- Head injuries
- Neck injuries
- Back injuries
- Internal bleeding
- Broken bones
If you delay seeking treatment, you may end up with a more serious injury that could have been prevented if you had received medical care right after the accident. It is important to remember that your health and safety should be your top priority after a car accident.
How Treatment Refusal Impacts Car Accident Injury Claims in Florida
If you are injured in a car accident in Florida, you are required by law to seek medical treatment. If you refuse to seek medical treatment, your injury claim may be impacted. If you are injured in a car accident, it is important to seek medical treatment as soon as possible. Refusing to seek medical treatment can have serious consequences for your injury claim.
If you are injured and do not seek medical treatment, the insurance company may argue that your injuries are not related to the car accident. This can impact your ability to receive compensation for your injuries.
If you are injured in a car accident, it is important to seek medical treatment and cooperate with the insurance company. Refusing to seek medical treatment can hurt your case and make it more difficult to receive compensation for your injuries.
What Kind of Doctor Should You Go See After a Car Accident in Florida?
If you’re in Florida and have been in a car accident, it’s important to seek medical care as soon as possible. Many people wonder what kind of doctor they should see after a car accident. The answer depends on the severity of your injuries.
If you have any serious injuries, you should go to the nearest emergency room. If you have any non-serious injuries, you should go to your regular doctor. Even if you don’t think you’re injured, it’s a good idea to get checked out by a doctor just to be safe.
Car accidents can cause all sorts of injuries, from minor cuts and bruises to more serious injuries like whiplash or brain damage. It’s important to get treatment for any injuries you may have suffered in order to prevent them from getting worse.
Questions to Ask a Doctor After a Car Accident
It’s always a good idea to be prepared and know what questions to ask your doctor after a car accident. This is especially important if you are injured in the accident and are seeking medical care. By being informed, you can make sure that you get the best possible treatment for your injuries.
Here are some of the most important questions to ask after a car accident:
- What type of injuries do I have?
- What is the treatment plan?
- When can I go back to work?
- Are there any long-term effects of my injuries?
- What should I do to prevent further injury?
These are just a few of the questions you may want to ask your doctor after an accident. Make sure to discuss any other concerns you may have with your physician.
Why You Should Closely Follow Your Doctor’s Prescribed Treatment Plan After an Accident
Many people may not realize it, but following your doctor’s prescribed treatment plan is crucial to recovering from an accident. Not only will this help ensure that you heal properly, but it can also help your case if you decide to file a claim. If you do not follow your doctor’s orders, the insurance company may try to use that against you.
How Gaps in Treatment Impact Your Injury Claim
If you don’t follow through with all of your appointments and treatments, this can have a negative impact on your injury claim. Not following a medical professional’s prescribed treatment plan is a great way to undermine your personal injury claim in Florida. Missing appointments or not completing treatments creates gaps in your treatment history, which will work against you when it comes time to negotiate a settlement or pursue a verdict in court.
Additionally, if you try to settle your case without completing all of your treatment, you may end up having to pay for future treatment out of pocket. This is because the insurance company will only consider the treatments that have already been completed when calculating their settlement offer. So, if you try to settle before you’re fully healed, you could end up shortchanging yourself and having to pay for expensive future treatments.
It’s always best to seek medical care after a car accident and to follow through with all recommended treatments in order to give yourself the best chance at a full recovery.
Medical Expenses Are Viewed as Evidence in Car Accident Cases
When you are in a car accident, the other driver’s insurance company is going to be looking for any way to reduce the amount of money they have to pay out. One way they do this is by trying to find evidence that you were not actually injured in the accident. This can include trying to find evidence that your injuries were pre-existing or that you did not seek medical care after the accident.
Remember that as a fully insured driver in Florida, you have PIP coverage. So even if you don’t have health insurance, you can tap into that in order to get checked out by a qualified medical professional after a car accident. A personal injury claim that has no attached record of medical expenses for injuries is not going to be viewed as credible in the eyes of the insurance adjuster or a jury if a lawsuit gets filed. If you were actually injured in the accident, then it’s expected you’ll seek the appropriate treatment ASAP.
Book a Free Consultation With One of Our Car Accident Attorneys in Florida
If you’ve been in a car accident, it’s always best to seek medical care and follow through with all recommended treatments. This gives you the best chance at making a full recovery and receiving fair compensation for your car accident claim.
At Herman & Wells, our personal injury attorneys can provide helpful insights for you and your family in the wake of an accident. That’s why we offer free consultations – so that you can have your questions answered by an experienced car accident lawyer without any obligation. Call (727) 821-3195 today to schedule a consultation and learn more about how we can help you get the compensation you deserve.