The Importance of Seeking Medical Treatment After a Car Accident
When you’ve been in a car accident in Miami, the shock and adrenaline you experience may make you think you don’t need to get medical attention. However, it’s a huge mistake to skip this step following a crash.
Failing to get medical care may lead to long-term health problems that could have otherwise been caught and treated promptly.
Why Many Accident Victims Don’t Seek Medical Care
An overwhelming number of people refuse medical care after an accident. The main reasons they do so are because of a lack of immediate symptoms, feeling overwhelmed, or because they don’t have health insurance.
No Immediate Symptoms
Not every injury in a car crash will result in gaping wounds. You may even think you’re just fine and chalk up how you feel about being in shock. However, it may take days or weeks for certain symptoms to present themselves. It is important to get checked out to be sure you don’t have any hidden injuries.
Feeling Overwhelmed
It is perfectly natural to feel overwhelmed after a serious car accident, especially if you witnessed serious injuries or a fatality on the road. You may have difficulty making decisions at the moment, but your health is important, so you shouldn’t skip medical treatment.
No Health Insurance
When their cost of living is high, many people don’t seek medical treatment because they don’t have health insurance. They worry about how much an ambulance or emergency room visit will cost them. Most hospitals will provide treatment regardless of your ability to pay, plus your auto insurance should cover your medical costs.
What to Know About Florida’s PIP Rule
Drivers in Florida are required to have personal injury protection (PIP) as part of their basic auto insurance. Under the rules for PIP, you have 14 days to seek medical care, or you can’t file a PIP claim. This insurance covers your medical expenses, no matter who is at fault for the crash. Since Florida is a no-fault state, your PIP insurance coverage will pay your medical expenses to the limit of $10,000.
This PIP rule exists to make sure that anyone who is injured in a car accident gets the medical care they need immediately. Waiting too long may cause injuries to worsen and prevent you from filing your claim. While you might not need an ambulance, you should get checked out to see if you have any hidden injuries. Keep track of all your records and bills, and follow through with any follow-up care instructed by the doctors. You will need to submit these things for your PIP claim. It will cover medical expenses and lost wages, so there is no need to worry if you do not have health insurance.
What Can Happen If You Delay Medical Treatment?
If you don’t get medical treatment after your accident, many serious complications could arise, such as traumatic brain injury (TBI), neck injuries, back injuries, broken bones, or internal bleeding.
Skipping treatment because you’re afraid of the medical bills could lead to more serious injuries and higher medical expenses. Your health and safety are paramount, and if a medical examination determines you are fine, you will have complete peace of mind.
However, if you have injuries beneath the surface, refusing medical treatment can also cause consequences for your car accident claim. The insurance company might argue that your injuries aren’t related to your accident. Then you will not be able to get compensation for your injuries.
Without proper compensation, you will be the one footing the bill, even if you were not at fault for the accident. Let’s say you skip a ride in the ambulance and don’t go to an urgent care center, or hospital, or even make an appointment with your doctor within 14 days. If you suddenly start feeling the impact of your injuries after this timeframe, you will have little recourse to collect compensation for your injuries.
As the extent of your injuries becomes apparent, you may now be unable to go to work and incur huge financial losses. In short, it’s best to be seen by medical professionals who can help you treat any injuries promptly and get you on the road to recovery.
By seeking medical treatment, you also create evidence of your expenses. A personal injury attorney can help you recover your damages from the negligent driver who put you in this situation. Evidence of your injuries will help show why you should be compensated.
Click the URL here to learn more about what to do when you’re injured in a car accident and find out how an attorney can help.
