Car Accident? Consider Options before Self-Treating
Getting into a car accident is a terrifying ordeal. At the Yau Law Firm, we have met various personal injury claimants who are anxious about seeking medical treatment. Oftentimes, they believe that their injuries are not serious, and that any soreness they feel can be treated with home remedies. But, a few weeks later, they notice that the pain is either getting worse, or that the home remedies are not effective. By the time they seek the help of a medical professional, they already lost all of their no-fault medical benefits. At this point, medical treatment would have to be paid out of pocket or from health insurance.
Florida’s Personal Injury Protection statute (PIP) requires that all injured individuals of a motor vehicle accident seek medical treatment or diagnosis no later than 14 days after the accident, or risk losing all of their no-fault medical benefits. Each driver in the state of Florida is required to possess car insurance with no-fault coverage. This means that if one were to get into a car accident, regardless of fault, the driver’s insurance can help pay for 80% of the claimants’ medical treatment up to a set amount ($2,500 for those diagnosed with non-emergency medical conditions and $10,000 for those diagnosed with emergency medical conditions). Most drivers in the State of Florida do not even know what this no-fault coverage is!
Oftentimes, right after a crash, the claimants do not immediately feel any pain. So, any soreness or pain developed overtime is overlooked. It is always a good idea to document any pain felt–no matter how big or little–and promptly seek medical treatment within 14 days of the crash. It is always best to adhere to the advice of medical professionals who may consider at-home treatments and remedies in conjunction with medical treatment.
If you are a victim of a car crash, give us a call today for a complimentary consultation. We are here to help!
