How Long Do You Have To Go To A Doctor After A Car Accident? After getting into a car accident, one of the first steps you should take is to seek medical attention to be assessed for accident-related injuries. In the United States, more than four million individuals are injured in motor vehicle accidents each year, ranging from bruising and broken bones to traumatic brain injuries and paralysis. It’s important that accident victims seek medical treatment after an accident to attend to these injuries or get assessed for less visible injuries, such as a concussion or internal injury. Another reason is to comply with auto insurance requirements, which may state that policyholders have a limited amount of time to go see a doctor after an accident in order to receive personal injury protection (PIP) coverage. This is known as a statute of limitations. Statutes of limitations for car accident injuries vary by state. Depending on where you live in the United States, you may have anywhere from 72 hours to two weeks after an accident to seek medical attention. Going to a doctor within the right time frame helps ensure that your injuries will be eligible for insurance reimbursement. They are absolutely amazing and Jessica is absolutely amazing they got me the full amount from my car accident got me the medical bills reduced so I didn't have to pay as much and I still had some money left over they worked very hard on my case and tirelessly because the insurance company was not exactly cooperative Heather Alexandre | 2 years ago Speak To A Specialist About Your Case Why You Should See A Doctor Right Away There are several reasons why it can be important to seek care from a medical professional as soon as possible after a car accident, in addition to your own well-being. The first is to ensure you comply with your auto insurance company’s personal injury protection requirements. Some insurance policies may detail a limited amount of time you have to seek medical care in order to receive compensation. Statute Of Limitations Following An Accident Many common medical expenses that result from car accident injuries are covered under personal injury protection, which is a type of coverage offered in some auto insurance policies. To learn if you have PIP insurance, read through your insurance policy carefully. You may be required to receive medical care within a certain amount of time for the resulting expenses to be eligible for PIP coverage. In Florida, individuals have up to 14 days to see a state-approved doctor for accident-related injuries. Failing to see a doctor within the required window of time could affect your legal rights to compensation. Car Accident Injuries Can Appear Late Not all serious injuries that result from a car accident are obvious right away. Some accident-related injuries can appear late, with symptoms showing up days or even weeks after the date of the accident. Two common examples of late-appearing injuries are concussions and soft-tissue injuries, like whiplash. A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury (TBI) that can occur from trauma sustained to the head. During a collision, a concussion can occur even when the head hasn’t been directly injured, but from the head jerking forward very suddenly. Symptoms of a concussion can vary, but may include: difficulty concentrating cloudy thinking dizziness headache nausea blurry vision trouble remembering new information low energy sleeping more or less than usual balance issues After getting into an accident, it’s recommended that you visit a doctor within 72 hours to be assessed for accident-related injury. Even if you don’t believe you’ve been seriously injured and do not need urgent care, it’s worthwhile to get checked out. Your doctor can assess for less visible damage to prevent the onset of serious, late-appearing injury. Types Of Medical Services Covered By Personal Injury Protection (PIP) In some states, personal injury protection (PIP) coverage is mandatory. This coverage insures drivers for medical expenses resulting from vehicle collisions. Personal injury protection (PIP) coverage offers benefits that can be used for various medical services. Coverage is available as long as you seek these services from approved providers within the amount of time stated in your policy. Types of medical services that may be covered include: emergency room care ambulance transportation X-rays primary care visits dental services rehabilitative services Seeking medical care from approved providers in your state may be an important factor in determining whether your medical treatment costs are eligible for coverage. Receiving treatment from a non-approved provider may result in a denied claim or refusal from your auto insurance to cover treatment costs. Our Featured Case Results Personal Injury Property Loss and Damage Claims Construction Negligence Labor Law Product Liability Medical Malpractice Car Accident 1 $47.4M Personal Injury Jury Verdict The formal finding of fact made by a jury on matters or questions submitted to the jury by a judge. 2 $42M Motor Vehicle Accident Jury Verdict The formal finding of fact made by a jury on matters or questions submitted to the jury by a judge. 3 $9.55M Firearm Injury Jury Verdict The formal finding of fact made by a jury on matters or questions submitted to the jury by a judge. 4 $5.25M Hospital Negligence Settlement A resolution between disputing parties about a legal case, typically reached before court action begins. 5 $4M Personal Injury Settlement A resolution between disputing parties about a legal case, typically reached before court action begins. 1 $4.2M Property Damage Liability Settlement A resolution between disputing parties about a legal case, typically reached before court action begins. 2 $2.5M Property Damage Liability Settlement A resolution between disputing parties about a legal case, typically reached before court action begins. 3 $1.5M Industrial Explosion Settlement A resolution between disputing parties about a legal case, typically reached before court action begins. 4 $1.1M Property Damage Liability Settlement A resolution between disputing parties about a legal case, typically reached before court action begins. 1 $3.9M Construction Negligence Settlement A resolution between disputing parties about a legal case, typically reached before court action begins. 2 $2.4M Construction Negligence Settlement A resolution between disputing parties about a legal case, typically reached before court action begins. 3 $2.3M Contractor Negligence Settlement A resolution between disputing parties about a legal case, typically reached before court action begins. 4 $1.5M Construction Negligence Settlement A resolution between disputing parties about a legal case, typically reached before court action begins. 5 $1.2M Construction Negligence Settlement A resolution between disputing parties about a legal case, typically reached before court action begins. 1 $6.8M Race Discrimination Settlement A resolution between disputing parties about a legal case, typically reached before court action begins. 2 $4.2M Whistleblower Liability Settlement A resolution between disputing parties about a legal case, typically reached before court action begins. 3 $4.0M Sexual Harassment Settlement A resolution between disputing parties about a legal case, typically reached before court action begins. 4 $3.2M Nationality Discrimination Settlement A resolution between disputing parties about a legal case, typically reached before court action begins. 5 $2,0M Sexual Harassment Settlement A resolution between disputing parties about a legal case, typically reached before court action begins. 1 $5.3M Pharmaceutical Negligence Settlement A resolution between disputing parties about a legal case, typically reached before court action begins. 2 $3.2M Product Liability Settlement A resolution between disputing parties about a legal case, typically reached before court action begins. 3 $1.3M Drug Company Liability Settlement A resolution between disputing parties about a legal case, typically reached before court action begins. 4 $1.2M Product Liability Settlement A resolution between disputing parties about a legal case, typically reached before court action begins. 1 $6.0M Medical Malpractice Settlement A resolution between disputing parties about a legal case, typically reached before court action begins. 2 $5M Orthopedic Malpractice Jury Verdict The formal finding of fact made by a jury on matters or questions submitted to the jury by a judge. 3 $3M Gastroenterology Malpractice Jury Verdict The formal finding of fact made by a jury on matters or questions submitted to the jury by a judge. 4 $2.25M Urology Malpractice Jury Verdict The formal finding of fact made by a jury on matters or questions submitted to the jury by a judge. 5 $1.7M Anesthesiology Malpractice Jury Verdict The formal finding of fact made by a jury on matters or questions submitted to the jury by a judge. 1 $42M Motor Vehicle Accident Jury Verdict The formal finding of fact made by a jury on matters or questions submitted to the jury by a judge. 2 $15M Motorcycle Accident Jury Verdict The formal finding of fact made by a jury on matters or questions submitted to the jury by a judge. 3 $6.1M Motorcycle Accident Jury Verdict The formal finding of fact made by a jury on matters or questions submitted to the jury by a judge. 4 $2.3M Car Accident Jury Verdict The formal finding of fact made by a jury on matters or questions submitted to the jury by a judge. 5 $1.8M Truck Accident Jury Verdict The formal finding of fact made by a jury on matters or questions submitted to the jury by a judge. Find out if you have a case we could help you win Speak To a Specialist How Seeking Help From A Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help Filing an auto insurance claim after getting into an accident can be a stressful and confusing process. Although insurance companies are required by law to process claims fairly and in a timely manner, there are some insurance companies that may operate in bad faith. Bad faith practices include providing misleading or false information about their policies, or failing to provide a reasonable explanation for a denied claim. One example of a bad faith insurance tactic is for an auto insurance company to falsely claim that a person did not seek medical attention soon enough. The insurance company may also claim that because a policyholder didn’t seek medical treatment right away, it appears unclear whether the injury can be directly linked to the accident. At Florin|Roebig law firm, our personal injury lawyers are committed to helping clients navigate the insurance claims process and receive the compensation they’re entitled to in a timely manner. We can also help you dispute a claim or file a bad faith claim against your insurance company, if necessary, to secure compensation. We Are Nationally Awarded Lawyers Contact Us Today For Legal Assistance After A Car Accident Since 1985, the lawyers of Florin|Roebig law firm have been fighting for and protecting the rights of clients across the U.S. who have suffered personal injury and other losses. Don’t wait to get started with a free consultation with one of our top-rated car accident attorneys. Contact us today at (800) 226-6581 to learn more about how we can help you file or dispute an auto insurance claim for medical cost reimbursement.
