Help Us Help You: Visit Your Doctor Regularly After an Accident
As an accident victim, you undoubtedly have a number of concerns running through your mind, especially if you’ve sustained substantial injuries. For many victims, finances after an accident will quickly run out and trying to stay afloat while dealing with potential lawsuits and settlement offers can become quite difficult. Even with the various issues that must be dealt with, it is crucial for accident victims to also understand the importance of visiting the doctor regularly after an accident – even if they feel “just fine.”
The Importance of Visiting a Doctor Right Away After an Accident
Your Florida personal injury attorney will tell you that under Florida law, individuals who are hurt in an automobile collision must be medically evaluated within 14 days of the accident in order to be covered by their PIP insurance. The physician must document your injuries during that first visit.
Under the no-fault law, an individual’s PIP insurance may pay up to $10,000 for an injured party’s medical treatment related to an auto accident. However, it should be noted that the exact amount paid will depend on whether the injuries sustained qualify as an “emergency medical condition.” If the injuries sustained are not deemed to be EMCs, the injured victim may still receive up to $2,500 under PIP.
Many people wait or fail to seek medical attention altogether after an accident, most commonly because they “feel fine” and don’t believe it’s necessary. However, all accident victims are encouraged to seek medical attention right away, as some injuries may take a while to manifest after an accident.
Individuals with minor injuries tend to delay visiting the doctor for various reasons. Some people simply hate going to the doctor or may not have insurance to pay for the visit, while others choose to wait until after a planned vacation or business trip. It is important to note that this choice could ultimately cost you in the long run.
As mentioned above, there are a number of injuries that do not present themselves until several days or even weeks after an accident. Such injuries typically include soft tissue damage, spinal and neck trauma, internal bleeding and injuries to organs and ligament tears. In fact, a more serious injury involves brain damage in cases where the auto crash causes a closed head injury that might go undetected unless a medical examination is performed.
Let Us Help You With Your Case
Such hidden or delayed injuries can prove to be quite costly, as they usually involve substantial medical costs and long-term disability. That being the case, failing to seek medical treatment after an accident can turn into a huge legal issue for the injured party, as many insurance companies may choose to use the victim’s failure to obtain prompt medical attention as proof that the injuries sustained were not as severe as claimed (or never existed in the first place).
Delaying medical treatment can harm your personal injury claim considerably, as well as harm your chances of obtaining the PIP coverage to which you may be entitled. If you have questions or concerns about your case, do not hesitate to contact the Shiner Law Group today at (561) 777-7700.
