The Importance of Visiting a Doctor After a Car Accident
According to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), Florida has over 17 million drivers. And unfortunately, many drivers eventually end up in an accident on one of the many scenic roads in the Sunshine State. The DMV has also reported that in 2018 alone, there were almost 400,000 car accidents.
Accidents are stressful when they occur and they often lead to both physical and mental trauma regardless of how minor they may initially seem. For this reason, it is imperative that you see a doctor regardless of how insignificant you may initially believe the accident to be.
What’s the Problem With Waiting to Obtain Medical Help?
While you may have obvious injuries, there are also many other less visible injuries that can occur in even the most minor of wrecks. However, this is doubly important because Florida law offers something called the Personal Injury Protection (PIP) statute which allows you to recover up to 80 percent of your medical expenses paid, up to $10,000. But here’s the kicker – you only have 14 days after an automobile accident to seek medical treatment for your injuries. Therefore, waiting to obtain treatment can not only stop you from discovering latent injuries early on. It can also prevent you from recovering for your injuries whatsoever.
What Should You Do if You Are Injured in a Car Accident?
-
Call authorities and ensure that you obtain a police report.
-
Stay on the scene no matter what. If you leave the scene of an accident that involves injuries without providing your information, you can face serious implications such as losing your driver’s license.
-
Check out the scene for potential witnesses. Make sure that you record the names, phone numbers, and a short description of what each witness saw so that you have a record to refer to later on.
-
Write out a journal entry that contains as much information as you can remember even if it doesn’t seem important to include at the time.
-
Move your vehicle to a safe place. This is especially true if traffic is being blocked by your car.
-
Obtain medical attention as soon as possible. It can’t be emphasized enough that you should obtain the help of a medical professional even if you think your accident was minor.
Have You or a Loved One Been Injured in an Accident?
While we all hope to never be involved in an accident, the reality is that there is always a risk we undertake when we get behind the wheel and hit the road. When injuries occur as a result of car accidents, accident victims should not attempt to face the challenges that come with unexpected medical bills alone. Our professional team of experienced personal injury attorneys offer the legal help you need to help you receive compensation for all of your medical treatments now and in the future. As the South Florida auto accident attorneys at Leifer & Ramirez, we will ensure you have the guidance that you need while we help you obtain the benefits that you deserve. Contact us today to begin figuring out your next steps.
Resource:
leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0600-0699/0627/Sections/0627.736.html
https://www.leiferlaw.com/what-do-i-do-after-my-child-is-injured-in-a-car-accident/
