A car accident is a distressing and disorienting experience, often leaving you unsure of the appropriate course of action to ensure your well-being. Should I go to the doctor after a car accident? Or should I just wait and see if anything hurts? Seeking timely medical treatment after a car accident is crucial. If your injuries aren’t severe enough to warrant a trip to the emergency room, you should still seek medical attention as soon as possible.
For a free consultation with our experienced Florida car accident lawyers, please call (850) 601-1111 or fill out our online form today.
Signs You Should Go to the Doctor After a Car Accident
Visible injuries, such as bone fractures, obviously need emergency care. You should be transported to the hospital or have someone drive you immediately after the accident. Less apparent symptoms, including dizziness, nausea, and disorientation, could signal something serious—especially if you struck your head in the accident. If you don’t go to the ER, visit an urgent care center immediately.
Remember to always put your health first. Delaying medical treatment can lead to complications and potentially exacerbate existing injuries. Early intervention can mean the difference between a proper diagnosis and injury complications.
Urgent Care or Primary Care Physician After a Car Accident?
Urgent care can be the better choice for some accident victims. If your injuries aren’t severe enough to warrant an ambulance ride to the hospital, go to your local urgent care. The doctor there can recommend a hospital transfer if necessary.
As we all know, getting an appointment with your primary care doctor can take weeks or even months. Instead, go to urgent care. A doctor there can diagnose your injuries and help you develop a treatment plan that you can share with your primary doctor at your first appointment.
How Long Do You Have to See a Doctor After an Auto Accident?
You must be mindful of legal deadlines, especially for claims under your personal injury protection (PIP) coverage. In Florida, you only have 14 days to seek medical treatment, or you run the risk of your insurance company denying payment.
In the case of a severe injury accident, delaying medical treatment can also significantly undermine a future personal injury claim. Insurance companies will argue your injuries weren’t that severe or that a subsequent event or accident caused them.
Not all injuries show up right away after an accident. Some soft tissue injuries can become noticeable one or two days later. Waiting to seek medical attention can allow these conditions to worsen over time.
What happens if you don’t go to the doctor after a car accident? And when is it too late to go to the doctor after a car accident? If you didn’t see a doctor right away, you should still contact a knowledgeable Florida car accident lawyer.
Based on your circumstances and how long after the accident you waited, you may still have a viable claim. Rather than delay any longer, schedule an appointment with a doctor to assess your injuries.
What to Say to a Doctor After a Car Accident?
When you visit a doctor after a car accident, provide accurate and detailed information about the accident and your symptoms.
Be honest about the pain and discomfort you’re experiencing and any pre-existing conditions that could be relevant. The doctor will use this information to provide the best care and treatment plan. Additionally, this documentation will become evidence for any potential personal injury claim you file.
PIP Coverage in Florida
Drivers in Florida must carry personal injury protection (PIP) insurance. This coverage can pay some medical expenses and lost wages resulting from an accident, regardless of who is at fault.
Failure to seek treatment within the 14-day deadline could jeopardize your benefits here. Only specific severe injury cases will meet the threshold for filing a personal injury claim. Don’t risk paying for medical expenses out of pocket by not going to the doctor within 14 days.
Statute of Limitations for Car Accidents in Florida
Fault-based car accident claims are subject to a statute of limitations, which is the deadline for filing a lawsuit in Florida. You typically have four years to initiate legal action for injuries sustained in a car accident.
However, some notable exceptions to this four-year deadline could increase or decrease your filing time. One important example is a claim involving an accident with a government agency. You could only have six months to file a notice of claim. A delay in treatment could compromise your potential compensation in this situation.
Contact a Florida Car Accident Lawyer
If you need help with questions like, When should I go to the doctor after a car accident? Contact our skilled legal team at Nonni Homola.
Trust in our years of experience to help you answer your injury-related questions and determine whether your situation qualifies you to file a personal injury claim. Let our experienced Florida car accident lawyers help you fight for the compensation you deserve. Contact our office online or call (850) 601-1111 today to schedule an initial consultation.
Chris received his Juris Doctorate from Florida State University College of Law in 2008, and he was admitted to the Florida Bar in December of 2008 followed by the State Bar of Texas in May of 2009. He has litigated, mediated, and resolved over five hundred first-party storm damage claims, and he has litigated, mediated, and successfully resolved multiple major construction defect claims with recoveries in excess of $1,800,000.00.
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