If you suffered an injury in a car accident, visible or invisible, then you should seek medical care as soon as possible in the State of Florida. If you fail to go to the hospital within two weeks after a car accident, then you will most likely be unable to pursue compensation later.
You will have to deal with a number of things following a car accident, including car repairs, looking for a replacement car, negotiating with the insurance company, finding a rental, and the list goes on. If you were seriously injured or not, it is still imperative that you get a check-up from a medical professional after a car accident, especially if you wish to seek compensation later.
At The Law Place, we have over seventy-five years of combined experience when it comes to helping people who have been injured in car accidents throughout the State of Florida. Our law firm understands the complexities of car accidents, and we want to help you to get back on your feet.
A car accident lawyer from The Law Place will discuss your case and explain the possible types of compensation that you could be owed. If you call our office now, we will assist you every step of the way. Our phone lines are open twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.
Contact The Law Place on (941) 444-4444 to schedule a free consultation today.
Why Should I Get Medical Care After a Car Crash?
Our law firm highly recommends that you seek medical treatment after a car accident immediately. In most cases, you might not think that you have to go to the hospital, especially if you did not suffer a serious injury. However, this is a mistake because you will not realize the true nature of your medical condition until you seek the opinion of a doctor. If the car accident was particularly severe, then an ambulance will arrive at the scene to take you to the hospital anyway.
You should also consider the fact that you might have internal injuries that you cannot see or feel at first. If you do not feel hurt at the scene of the car accident, it does not mean that you have escaped the crash without an injury. In some cases, internal injuries can take days or even weeks to manifest following a car crash. It will make your injury worse to treat in the event that you do not seek medical treatment as soon as possible. It is always better to be safe than sorry.
In addition, it will help you to recover compensation by seeking medical treatment immediately after a car accident. If the car accident was the fault of another driver, then you have the option to file a claim against their insurance company. The at-fault driver’s insurance company will pay for the property damage and bodily injury according to the limits of their policy. However, if your losses exceed their policy limits, then you can also sue the at-fault driver for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. The sooner that you seek medical care after a car accident, the easier it is to prove that the at-fault driver caused your injuries. A doctor will be able to examine your medical state and determine that the car accident was the definitive cause of your injuries.
Personal Injury Protection (PIP) Insurance Deadline
If you want to receive compensation for your medical bills or other losses, then you have to receive medical care within 14 days from the date of the car accident under the Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance law (written in Florida Statute 627.736). The benefits of your Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance will cover you in the event that you receive:
- Medical care.
- Ambulance transportation.
- Surgical services.
- X-rays.
- Dental care.
- Rehabilitative services.
It is imperative that you receive medical treatment from an approved health care provider, including:
- ER technician.
- Surgeon or specialist.
- Personal physician.
- Physical therapist.
- Chiropractor.
If you seek medical treatment from a healthcare provider that was not listed in the Florida statute, then you will most likely not meet the requirements for your insurance benefits.
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What to Do After a Car Accident
If you want to protect yourself and your family, then it is essential that you know what to do after a car accident. Our law firm highly recommends that you follow these steps while you are still at the scene of the car accident:
- Move to safety – If you do not feel safe at the location of the car accident, then you should move away from danger and wait in a safe location.
- Check for injuries – If you or someone else sustained an injury, then you should call for an ambulance immediately.
- Call the police – You have to call the police to the scene of the car accident, according to Florida Statute 316.062. When a police officer arrives at the location of the car accident, then they will file a report.
- Collect evidence – If you are not seriously injured, then you should take photographs and videos of the accident, the location, the road marks, the injuries, and more.
- Go to the hospital – It is important that you seek medical treatment immediately after a car accident, even if you did not sustain a serious injury.
- Insurance company – You have a responsibility to call your insurance company within the time specified in your policy. However, do not share the details of your car accident with an insurance company. Otherwise, they will use your statements against you as a way to pay you less compensation.
- Hire a car accident lawyer – It is important that you hire a car accident lawyer as soon as possible following a car crash. A car accident lawyer from The Law Place will fight to protect your legal rights and negotiate for the maximum amount of compensation for the losses that you suffered.
We’re Florida’s top litigation team with over 75 years of combined experience
Compensation for a Car Accident
If you have been involved in a car accident, then you will most likely have suffered one or more of the following damages:
- Medical bills – Past, present, and future medical expenses, including visits to the doctor, hospitalization, physical therapy, rehabilitation, medical equipment, prescription medication, and more.
- Lost wages – A loss of income, a reduced earning capacity, and changes to your usual income since you have not been able to work following an injury.
- Property damage – The costs to repair or replace the damage to your motor vehicle or other personal property.
- Pain and suffering – The physical pain, mental anguish, emotional trauma, and other forms of pain and suffering.
- Wrongful death – If someone you love was killed in a car accident, then you could be entitled to receive compensation for medical bills, lost wages, property damage, pain and suffering, and more, as stated in Florida Statute 768.21.
From the initial call to updates on your case status, we are here to get you answers.
What to Say to a Doctor After a Car Accident
There are five important questions that you have to ask your doctor following a car accident in the State of Florida. The five questions include:
What Are My Injuries?
A doctor will run a number of tests and scans to work out the type of injuries that you might have sustained. The tests might include X-rays, MRIs, CT scans, blood tests, or even a physical full-body exam. The doctor will be able to give you a full assessment of your injuries, along with their severity and the recovery process, once the results are in.
A doctor will know the type of questions to ask you. It is important that you respond truthfully and share all of the symptoms that you feel so that you can receive a detailed answer to your question.
What Does the Recovery Process Look Like?
In some cases, the injuries are minor, and they will only require over-the-counter medication and rest to help with the pain. It is worth asking your doctor what your recovery process will look like. It is also a good idea to write down the length of your treatment so that you can plan your schedule.
Who Else Can Help Me With My Treatment?
An emergency room doctor or geriatric doctor will probably not be able to offer you the complete treatment that you need to recover from your injury. In this case, they might refer you to other medical professionals such as:
- Chiropractic.
- Physical therapy.
- Massage therapy.
- Orthopedics.
It is important that you ask your doctor about who or what else can help you with your treatment.
How Will My Injuries Affect My Lifestyle?
In some cases, an injury could cause you extreme pain and discomfort that will stop you from performing your daily activities. That is why you should ask how your injuries will affect your lifestyle. In other cases, putting pressure on your injury will only aggravate it, even if you have been feeling good for the past few days. An injury might even affect your job, your lifestyle, and even your daily activities.
Can I Have Copies of My Medical Records?
It is imperative that you obtain your medical records, along with a report from your doctor, as a way to keep track of your progress. In addition, a medical report will also add value to your personal injury claim by proving that your injuries were the direct result of the car accident.
Statute of Limitations on Car Accidents
If you wish to file a personal injury claim, then you have four years from the date of the car accident under the statute of limitations in the State of Florida. If someone you love was killed in a car accident, then you have two years from the date of their death to file a wrongful death claim under the statute of limitations in the State of Florida. If you do not file your claim within the statute of limitations, then you will not be able to recover compensation.
Florida Statue 95.11 explains the statute of limitations.
Contact The Law Place Today
If you or someone you love were involved in a car accident, then you should seek legal advice from a car accident lawyer in the State of Florida. It is normal to have questions following a car accident, and you should receive legal advice from a law firm that you can trust.
At The Law Place, we have over seventy-five years of collective experience and knowledge in pursuing compensation for clients who live across the State of Florida. Our law firm will explain the legal process to you and help you to understand your rights with ease.
We strongly advise that you seek medical assistance immediately after a car accident, especially if you are looking to pursue compensation. If you have further questions in regard to a car accident, then you should speak to a car accident lawyer now.
Contact The Law Place on (941) 444-4444 to schedule a free consultation today.
