Did you know that, due to Florida personal injury protection (PIP) insurance law, you have a very specific – and short – amount of time to seek medical attention after a car accident? Amidst the hassle of damages to your car, insurance claims to file, and potentially lost time from work, many car accident injuries are pushed to the bottom of the to-do list. However, it is vital that you seek medical attention as quickly as possible.
Florida Two Week Statute
In fact, Florida requires that you seek medical attention within 14 days after the motor vehicle accident in their PIP auto insurance laws. While two weeks may seem like ample time while you are reading this, consider injuries, such as whiplash, which are not necessarily serious enough to warrant an emergency visit, but tend to get worse as the days go by after the accident. It is not out of the question to decide, a couple of weeks after the accident happens, that you should probably see a doctor because the pain is lingering.
Consequences of Waiting
Your personal doctor may want to refer you to another doctor when you tell them your injuries are the result of a car accident. Then, you have to make an appointment with another doctor. This adds time onto the time you already postponed seeking medical attention. Unfortunately, if you wait two weeks to seek medical attention, you are risking the possibility that your PIP insurance will not cover any of your medical expenses at all.
Chiropractors Cannot Diagnose
Another tidbit of information you should know is that Florida law does not allow chiropractors to be the diagnostician of an emergency medical condition. So, even if you are referred to a physician who refers you to a chiropractor, you will have to go back to your referral physician for an actual diagnosis. This is an extra step most people would not realize they would have to do to obtain compensation for their claim.
Florida PIP laws are ultimately confusing, as they are different from normal car insurance that drivers are accustomed to. Therefore, it is often smart to consult with a Tampa Bay car accident attorney who can help you understand the complexities of PIP laws after an accident. If you have been injured in a car accident, contact an experienced Tampa Bay car accident attorney to help you get the compensation you deserve. Call us today.