You may walk away from a car accident with a little soreness, but otherwise feel fine, and decide not to go to the ER, only to be hit with a surge of pain hours or days later. If you were in such an accident, didn’t get medical treatment, and are now suffering from injury pain, you may be wondering if you ruined your potential personal injury case.
The short answer is no, but it can affect how your case is valued. Here, we explain the importance of prompt medical care at the ER after a personal injury accident and how it may or may not affect your case.
Why Immediate Medical Care Matters
Insurance adjusters carefully examine whether you sought treatment right after the crash. To them, going straight to the ER signals serious injury, while waiting to see a doctor may suggest your injuries weren’t as severe. This doesn’t destroy your case, but it can give the insurance company an argument to minimize your compensation.
What You Should Do Next
Even if you didn’t go to the ER, you should still get checked out by a medical professional as soon as possible. Some injuries, like whiplash or soft tissue damage, don’t show up right away but can worsen over time.
Depending on your symptoms, you may need the ER, urgent care, an orthopedic doctor, or even a physical therapist or chiropractor. The key is not to delay your treatment.
Florida PIP Insurance Coverage: The 14-day Rule
Another factor to consider in this situation is your Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance coverage. Every driver is required to have a minimum of $10,000 in PIP coverage when they register a vehicle in Florida.
This coverage provides 80 percent of all reasonable and necessary medical expenses, up to the policy limits, resulting from a personal injury accident, regardless of who is at fault. Your PIP coverage is what you will first turn to to cover your expenses in the event of a car accident.
However, to use that PIP coverage, you must get medical treatment within 14 days of the incident. This is another reason why seeking prompt medical care is essential to your car accident claim. An experienced personal injury attorney will make sure you are aware of and meet all the deadlines, such as this one, to ensure the optimal outcome of your case.
How a Lawyer Can Help
When you call Hancock Injury Attorneys, we’ll listen to your symptoms and guide you to the right type of medical provider. We also know which specialists can properly diagnose and document accident-related injuries, something critical to your case. By getting the right care and following your treatment plan, you strengthen both your health and your claim.
Bottom Line
Not going to the ER immediately doesn’t kill your case, but the steps you take in the days following your accident can make a big difference. If you don't want to go to the ER, you could go to Urgent Care instead.
Protect your health and your rights by getting medical care and then calling Hancock Injury Attorneys for a free consultation at 813-915-1110. We’ll help you understand your options and fight for the compensation you deserve.