How Long Do You Have to Go to a Doctor After a Car Accident?

In Florida, you have 14 days after the accident to seek treatment from a hospital, emergency room, urgent care, etc. If you do not seek treatment, you may lose your right to file a PIP claim. If you wait longer than 14 days, your insurance company may deny your claim.

If you were injured in a car accident, the collision’s aftermath could be a confusing and stressful time. You might be dealing with painful injuries while also trying to figure out how you’ll repair your vehicle and get back to work. You may even be tempted to skip doctors’ visits or follow-up appointments to remove items from your seemingly endless to-do list.

It’s always important to seek medical attention as soon as possible after an accident. Not only will seeking appropriate care improve your chances of recovering the compensation you’re owed, but your insurance policy might require you to attend appointments.

To learn more, continue reading or contact the knowledgeable car accident attorneys of Zervos & Calta, PLLC, for a free consultation.

Why You Should See a Doctor Quickly After a Car Accident

Seeking prompt medical attention after a car accident is an essential part of protecting your health, your legal rights, and your ability to recover. You should see a doctor as soon as possible after a car accident because of:

• PIP insurance coverage time limits – In Florida, accident victims have 14 days after an accident to file personal injury protection (PIP) claims with their insurance providers. If you wait until after the 14-day time limit has passed, your insurance company may be legally entitled to deny your PIP claim.

• Serious injuries that may not immediately show symptoms – Many types of injuries may not present obvious symptoms right after a car accident. Your doctor will know how to diagnose “invisible” injuries, such as whiplash or a concussion, and recommend treatment to prevent your condition from worsening.
• Better chances of a better outcome – The sooner your condition is diagnosed, the sooner your doctor can develop and implement a treatment plan. This can help you recover more quickly and avoid any complications from waiting too long to act. Seeking prompt medical attention can also help you recover financially. When insurance companies see that you’re taking your health seriously, they’re more likely to take your claim seriously, too.

How long should you continue seeing your doctor after a car accident? In short, it depends. If you sustained only minor injuries, you might only need to attend a few follow-up appointments until your injuries are healed.

However, if you suffered severe injuries, you may need to continue to see your doctor until you reach maximum medical improvement (MMI). MMI is the point in your recovery journey when you and your doctor agree that further improvement to your condition is unlikely, even with continued medical treatment. It may mean you are healed, or it may mean that you face a lifelong disability due to the injury.

Severely injured people could take weeks, months, or even years to reach MMI after a car accident. Your doctor and your lawyer can help you determine whether continuing or discontinuing medical treatment is appropriate for your situation.

How Will Seeing a Doctor Help My Personal Injury Claim?

Seeing a doctor as soon as possible after an accident can also help you in your personal injury claim. Prompt medical attention connects your injuries to the accident that caused them with documentation. When you tell the doctor that you’re seeing them because you had an accident, their notes will reflect that you sought medical care for accident-related injuries.

Failing to seek treatment quickly may also allow an at-fault party or insurance company to argue that your injuries had another cause, such as a different accident or pre-existing medical condition. They could argue that you failed to mitigate your losses by not seeking prompt treatment, allowing your injuries to worsen and require more expensive care.

What Is PIP Insurance Coverage?

In Florida, auto insurance policies must include at least $10,000 of PIP coverage. This type of policy covers the following for car accident victims:

• 80 percent of the cost of reasonable and necessary medical treatment for auto accident injuries, regardless of who may have caused the crash
• 60 percent of their lost income if they cannot work due to injuries
• Reimbursement for the cost of services to perform tasks they cannot do themselves because of their injuries, such as housekeeping or childcare
• Up to $5,000 in death benefits for a covered person who dies from injuries suffered in a car accident

However, Florida’s PIP system requires car accident victims to seek medical attention within 14 days of a crash. If a covered person waits more than 14 days to see a doctor for injuries they suffered in a car accident, the insurance company may not provide PIP coverage for any medical treatment.

What Does Personal Injury Protection (PIP) Insurance Cover?

Florida drivers are required to carry at least $10,000 in PIP insurance coverage. While liability insurance covers other people’s expenses if you are at fault in a car crash, PIP benefits pay for up to 80 percent of your accident-related medical expenses, regardless of who was at fault. PIP coverage also extends to others in your vehicle and family members covered by your insurance policy.

The types of medical services PIP insurance typically covers include:

• Emergency room treatment

• Hospital stays

• Ambulance rides

• X-rays and diagnostic tests

• Prescription medications

• Dental care

• Doctors’ appointments

• Therapy and rehabilitation services

Remember that you must receive care from an approved healthcare provider to have your medical expenses covered by insurance. If a non-approved provider treats you, your insurance carrier may deny your claim and refuse to cover your costs. An attorney can help you locate the medical attention you need after a car accident.

How Soon Should I Call My Lawyer After the Accident?

You should contact a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible after getting into an accident. They will likely recommend that you also seek medical attention immediately if you haven’t already.

Retaining legal counsel right after an accident can help you in any personal injury claims you file. The sooner you contact an attorney, the quicker they can start on your case. Promptly investigating the accident that caused your injury means your attorney can recover all available evidence before it gets lost. This includes recording witness testimony before memories begin to fade.

A personal injury lawyer will also advise you about your legal options for financial recovery. They can warn you about any deadlines that might apply to your claims.

Can I Still File a Claim If My Injury Symptoms Were Delayed?

Even if you waited to seek medical attention because you had delayed pain or other symptoms following an accident, you can still pursue a personal injury claim to seek compensation for your medical bills and lost income.

However, the at-fault party or their insurance company might try to argue against any connection between the accident and your injuries. They will likely bring up the length of time between the accident and when you sought medical treatment. If you delay seeking medical attention, they might claim that your injuries came from another trauma or a pre-existing condition.

Hiring legal counsel can help you push back against any effort to link your injuries to another cause. An attorney can investigate your claims and secure evidence proving that your injuries are from the accident.

Is There a Time Limit for Filing a Personal Injury Lawsuit in Florida?

Under Florida’s statute of limitations, you have two years after getting hurt in an accident to file a lawsuit against the parties responsible for your injuries. Filing a lawsuit after the limitations period has expired on your claim can cause you to lose your right to recover compensation. You should immediately speak to a personal injury lawyer about your legal claim to be safe.

When Do You Need Legal Help?

It’s not always necessary to hire a lawyer after a car accident. If your injuries were minor and your claim is undisputed, you may be able to obtain the compensation you need from your insurance provider alone. However, it’s a good idea to seek legal help if:

• You suffered serious bodily injury as a result of the crash.
• You suffered emotional injuries as a result of the crash.
• You were injured badly enough that you are unable to return to work.
• Your injuries are likely to result in long-term disability.
• It’s not obvious who was at fault for the accident.
• Multiple parties may be at fault for the accident.
• Another party attempts to blame you for the crash.
• The accident took place in a school or work zone.
• The other driver was uninsured or underinsured.
• It’s difficult to locate or preserve evidence for your claim.
• The insurance company tries to minimize or deny your claim.
• You are asked to provide a statement by an insurer or lawyer.
• You feel uncomfortable negotiating for the money you need.
• You have questions about your legal rights or options.

Contact a Florida Car Accident Attorney Today

At Zervos & Calta, PLLC, our firm is exclusively focused on Florida personal injury law. Our attorneys have more than 50 years of combined experience, so we know what it takes to handle even the most complicated injury claims.

When you decide to work with our firm, you can rest assured that your case is in good hands. Our dedicated team is not afraid to stand up to big insurance companies and demand the compensation our clients deserve. We are ready to work tirelessly to help you seek the medical care and the money you need to recover.

Let us handle the challenging aspects of your legal claim while you focus on your health. When you’re ready to discuss the details of your case with a qualified Tampa car accident lawyer, contact us to get started with your free initial consultation.

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About the Author

Lauren Calta
Attorney Lauren Calta is a partner in the Tampa Bay law firm Zervos & Calta, PLLC. For 25 years, Lauren Calta has focused her legal practice on representing people who have been harmed in personal injury, car accidents or lost loved ones due to the negligence of others. A distinguished personal injury trial attorney, she has secured millions of dollars for her clients and is a lifetime member of the Million Dollar and Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum in recognition of having obtained a settlement or verdict in excess of $2 million. She also is an official member of Lawyers of Distinction, Tampa Bay Trial Lawyers, Clearwater Bar Association and Florida Justice Association.