Car accidents can cause very serious injuries to anyone involved, whether you caused the accident or not. When people are found to be at fault for a car accident, they may be worried about getting medical care because they are unsure of how it will be paid for.
Medical care can often be expensive and the fear is that your insurance company will not help with your medical bills if you were responsible for the collision. However, this is not the case. It is important for car accident victims who have been injured in a crash to seek immediate medical attention.
Another common reason people avoid medical attention after a car accident is that they either do not realize they have been injured until later or they believe they can “tough it out”, allowing the injury to heal with time. By avoiding immediate medical treatment, you may not only cause your injuries to become worse, making recovery more difficult, but you may also make it harder to get your medical treatment covered by an insurance claim.
In this article, we will look at why it is always a good decision to seek immediate medical attention following a car accident even when you are determined to be at fault for the crash.
Medical Care When You Were At Fault For A Car Accident In Florida
The most important takeaway from this article should be that you should absolutely see a doctor as soon as possible following a car accident no matter who was at fault. Many car accident injuries may not be immediately noticeable, especially soft-tissue injuries. These injuries can worsen and sometimes lead to permanent damage if not treated quickly. The only way to get an accurate assessment of your injuries after a crash is to get a medical diagnosis.
An important thing to keep in mind in regards to medical treatment after a car accident is that the longer you wait to get care, the less likely you are to be covered by your insurance. Insurance companies will always look for ways to save money on payouts for claims. Your insurance company may deny your claim for the following reasons if you wait too long to get a medical evaluation
Florida requires that you get a medical evaluation within the first fourteen days following the date of your accident to qualify for insurance coverage.
Personal Injury Protection
Although there has been a push recently to change Florida’s no-fault laws, Florida is still a no-fault state. This means neither driver is held to be responsible in most car accidents that occur in Florida regardless of who caused the collision. Instead, Florida law requires that all drivers carry personal injury protection (PIP) insurance.
The good news for drivers found to be at fault in a car accident in Florida is that your personal injury protection (PIP) should protect you in the event of a crash. Drivers are required to carry a minimum PIP policy of up to $10,000. Your PIP insurance will cover 80% of your medical bills up to your policy limit ($10,000) for serious injuries. However, should your injury be determined to be a non-emergency, you can only claim up to $2,500 for medical treatment.
Florida drivers should also be aware that their PIP insurance does not cover all types of treatments. Certain alternative treatments, such as acupuncture or chiropractic, may not be covered under your insurance policy. Be sure to check with your provider what treatments are covered under your personal policy.
Medical Treatment When A Driver Was Not At Fault
If you were injured in a car accident where you were not at fault, you should still follow the same advice as a driver that causes an accident when it comes to treating your injuries. You will still be required to get medical documentation of your injuries within two weeks of the date of the accident in Florida. If you avoid medical care or wait too long to seek treatment, insurance companies can still deny your claim, even if you were not responsible for the accident.
You will still have to adhere to Florida’s no-fault laws and will file an injury claim with your insurance company using your PIP insurance. However, car accident victims who were not liable for an accident can file an injury claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance company if their injuries were severe and the cost of medical treatment and other damages exceeds the $10,000 limit provided through a PIP policy.
Victims should be able to get treatment from any doctor that specializes in treating car accident injuries. It should be noted that some physicians may require a Letter of Protection from a personal injury attorney before providing medical care. The car accident doctors at #1-888-DOCS4PI can not only treat injuries suffered during a crash but also refer patients to our network of trusted personal injury attorneys. We will help match you to the best attorney for handling your specific type of injury.
How Is Medical Treatment Paid For After A Car Accident?
There are several ways medical care can be paid for following a car accident injury in Florida. Drivers will typically use some form of car insurance to pay for their treatment and options can vary depending on whether or not you were at fault. This type of payment is known as third-party billing. Common examples of third-party billing include:
- Automobile insurance
- Personal injury protection (PIP)
- Med Pay
- Letter of Protection from an attorney
Most doctors and clinics that specialize in treating car accident injuries are set up to accept third-party billing. However, you should always confirm that your medical care provider does accept third-party billing before you undergo treatment. Medical providers who do not have a focus on treating car accident injuries may only accept health insurance or cash to pay for treatment. Additionally, you could run into issues with your injury claim if you use health insurance for your medical care.
Primary Care Physician Vs Car Accident Doctors
Many people who have been injured in a car accident for the first time may think it is a good idea to simply go to their primary care physician for treatment after a crash. Your family physician is probably an excellent doctor, but they are typically not experienced in treating the severe injuries that can arise from a collision. Most primary care physicians are not set up to accept third-party billing as well.
Car accident doctors, on the other hand, specialize in diagnosing and treating car accident injuries. These doctors know exactly how to provide detailed documentation of your injuries that can help support your injury claim. They will also be prepared to accept payment through third-party billing and can refer you to an excellent attorney if needed.
This is not to say you should not inform your primary care physician of your accident. Your primary care physician can help provide your car accident doctor with any relevant medical information they may need to treat you. This can include:
- Medical history
- Allergies to certain medications
- Pre-existing conditions
What To Do After A Car Accident You Caused
Gather Evidence
One of the most important steps following any car accident is gathering evidence at the scene of the accident regardless of whether or not you were at fault. Be sure to take pictures or videos of the scene. Important things to photograph include:
- Damage to any vehicles involved in the accident
- Any injuries sustained during the accident
- License plates for all vehicles involved
- Road conditions and location
- Insurance information for other parties involved
You will also want to collect the contact info from any other drivers in the accident as well as from any eyewitnesses and first responders.
Call The Police
Be sure to report the accident to the police while you are still at the scene. Police will come and take down an accident report that includes details about the crash, each party’s description of what caused the accident, and contact info for all parties involved. You should always request a copy of the police report for your own documentation. Read the report carefully before leaving the scene and let the police know if there are any mistakes in the report. This report can help you if the other party tries to change their story later on.
Seek Medical Attention
Again, it is crucial to seek medical attention as soon as possible following your accident. This will help satisfy insurance companies to show you really were injured during your accident. It also helps you get compensation for the treatment you need, even if you caused the accident.
If you were injured in a car accident in Florida, call #1-888-DOCS4PI right away. We will help you quickly schedule a medical evaluation with a doctor that specializes in the type of injuries you have suffered. Additionally, we can help connect you with the best personal injury lawyers in your area should you need professional legal representation.
