Being in a motor vehicle accident can be incredibly scary. In many cases, you might feel OK physically after a crash. However, even if you don’t think that you were hurt, it is still a good idea to go to the emergency room, urgent care, or to your doctor.
Shock can often mask symptoms of an injury after a traumatic event like an auto accident. Getting checked out by a doctor is the best way to get the right diagnosis and treatment for any injuries that you may have suffered. Your medical records will also be important evidence that your Vero Beach personal injury lawyer can use to help you get maximum compensation for your losses.
At Gould Cooksey Fennell, we advocate for accident victims in the Treasure Coast area of Florida. We handle all personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis, which means that you’ll never pay a fee unless we recover money for you. Contact our law offices today to schedule a free consultation with a Florida car accident attorney.
The Importance of Seeing a Doctor After an Accident
After a motor vehicle accident, you might have fairly obvious injuries like a broken bone or cuts and abrasions. Alternatively, you may feel perfectly fine. This latter result is often due to a condition known as shock, which often results from a traumatic event. Shock can make it difficult to tell if you are hurt given a drop in blood flow in the body.
Even if you don’t think that you were injured in the collision, it is important that you seek medical attention promptly. You can go to the emergency room – or call 911 – if you are more seriously injured. You can also go to urgent care or to your primary care physician if you aren’t sure if you were injured. The critical thing is that you go to the doctor and get evaluated for any injuries.
This matters for a few reasons. First, the only way that you will get a diagnosis and treatment for a condition is if you go to the doctor. If you delay, your symptoms may actually get worse – and you might not make a full recovery from your injuries.
Second, getting medical treatment right away provides a direct link between the accident and your injuries. This will be useful when filing a personal injury claim against the at-fault driver. Your Vero Beach car accident attorney can use these medical records to prove that your symptoms started right after the crash – and were caused by the accident.
Insurance companies often try to deny or minimize legitimate claims for financial compensation after a motor vehicle accident. One way they do this is by arguing that a delay in treatment shows that your injuries aren’t that serious or weren’t caused by the accident. Getting medical care immediately can help to improve the likelihood of getting fair compensation for your accident injuries.
Finally, Florida is one of just 12 states that require drivers to purchase “no-fault” – or personal injury protection (PIP) – coverage. This means that your own auto insurance will pay the first $10,000 in medical expenses. Under Florida law, PIP insurance will only cover these costs if you seek medical care within 14 days of the accident.
In other words, if you put off going to the doctor, then your medical bills might not be covered by your car insurance policy. For this reason, it is important that you get medical treatment sooner rather than later – and in every case before those 2 weeks have elapsed.
Will Car Insurance Cover My Medical Bills?
In Florida, PIP coverage is mandatory for all drivers – along with property damage liability (PDL) coverage. PIP covers 80% of all medically necessary and reasonable medical costs, regardless of who was at fault in the accident. All Florida drivers must have a minimum of $10,000 in PIP coverage as part of their auto insurance policy.
PIP will pay for your medical bills that are related to the crash, up to your policy limits. This can include every medical service that you receive, as long as it is considered reasonable and medically necessary. Covered costs may include services such as:
- Ambulance transportation
- Treatment in the emergency room
- Imaging tests like X-rays and MRIs
- Hospital stays
- Surgeries
- Dental care
- Visits to a primary care doctor and/or specialist
- Rehabilitative services
- Prescription medications
- Physical therapy
- Mental health counseling
PIP coverage does not mean that you cannot file a lawsuit against the at-fault driver for your injuries. If you suffered a serious injury, you can still pursue a claim against the responsible party with the help of an experienced Vero Beach car accident lawyer.
Do I Need a Lawyer for My Car Accident Case?
With PIP coverage, you may be tempted to just be happy that the insurance company will pay for your medical bills. However, PIP doesn’t cover all of your losses – and there is no guarantee that even your own insurance company will act in good faith when it comes to processing your claim.
A skilled personal injury lawyer won’t simply accept what the insurance company offers. In many situations, these offers aren’t enough to cover your full scope of losses. You might be entitled to more compensation for your remaining medical bills, property damage, additional lost wages, reduced earning capacity, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life.
We evaluate each car accident case to determine what our clients might be able to recover under Florida law. Our legal team is adept at analyzing cases and helping our clients get the best possible outcome for their injuries. During a free initial consultation, we will explain your rights to you – and give you a ballpark estimate of the value of your case.
Studies show that people who have legal representation recover an average of 40% more than people who represent themselves in personal injury cases. If you have been hurt in a car crash, we’ll help you get maximum compensation for your losses.
Hurt in a Car Accident? Give Our Law Firm a Call.
After being hurt in a car accident, you might be confused, scared, and overwhelmed. You may also be confused about your rights and what you should do. Going to the doctor should be a top priority – along with scheduling a consultation with a Vero Beach car accident attorney.
Gould Cooksey Fennell represents people who have been hurt in all types of accidents in the Treasure Coast region, including car accidents, truck accidents, and motorcycle accidents. We offer free consultations and never charge a fee unless we recover money for you. To learn more or to schedule an appointment with a Florida auto accident lawyer, give us a call at 772-231-1100 or fill out our online contact form.
Related: Should You See a Chiropractor After a Car Accident?
