When you’re hurt in a car accident, it can be hard to know what to do. If you have physical injuries or even suspect that you might have injuries, you might wonder if you should go to the emergency room. In most cases, the answer is yes. Here are eight reasons our Tampa car accident lawyers suggest going to the emergency room after a car accident in Florida.
You May Not Realize the Full Extent of Your Injuries
A car accident is a sudden shock to the system. When an accident occurs, your adrenaline is running high. You may not recognize your symptoms as serious injuries. In some cases, your symptoms might get worse as time goes on.
When you go to the emergency room after the accident, you have professionals that can diagnose your injuries. They can help you determine what your injuries are and what you need to do for your immediate safety. You don’t have to wonder about your injuries. Instead, you have the help of trained professionals who know exactly what to look for.
Emergency Room Doctors Can Document the Link Between Your Accident and Your Injuries
An important part of any car accident case is showing that your injuries are the result of the accident. Whether you bring your claim to your own insurance company or you bring a legal claim against the other driver, you need to prove that you got your injuries in the car accident. The sooner you receive medical attention, the more clearly you can document the fact that your injuries are from the accident.
Immediate Treatment Jumpstarts Your Recovery
When you go to the emergency room after an accident, you begin your healing process right away. Taking the right steps in the immediate aftermath of a car accident allows you to do all that you can to stop things from getting worse and begin your recovery right away. Getting started on the path to recovery can be both physically and mentally beneficial after an accident. An emergency room visit is the fastest way to identify your injuries and begin feeling better.
You Can Receive Insurance Benefits
To receive Florida no-fault insurance benefits, you must receive medical care. Of course, your best bet is to get medical attention right away if there’s even a hint of injuries. But to get your no-fault insurance payments, you have only 14 days to get medical attention. Going to the emergency room complies with this law.
Florida law 627.736 is the law that requires you to receive initial medical services within 14 days of an accident. Emergency room care complies with the law. Urgent care and a primary care doctor visit also qualify you under Florida Revised Statute 627.736. However, things like a massage therapist or alternative medicine may not count for the 14-day rule. When you go to the emergency room after a car accident, you have the assurance that you’re in compliance with the law, and you can receive your no-fault benefits.
Florida No-Fault Insurance Benefits Can Cover the Costs of the Visit
In Florida, all drivers have to have at least $10,000 in no-fault PIP insurance benefits. Your PIP benefits pay for your medical care regardless of who is at fault for the accident. With your PIP insurance, you don’t have to wait for a determination of who is at fault for the accident. You can go to the ER knowing that your visit is covered under the terms of your PIP benefits and up to the limits of your policy.
The Visit Gathers Evidence for Your Legal Claim
In addition to documenting the fact that your injuries are the result of your accident, your emergency room visit after a car accident also documents the extent of your injuries. At the emergency room, you can get the x-rays, diagnostic tests, and expert evaluations that create a detailed record of your injuries.
When you begin building your legal claim, you have a wealth of medical evidence that shows the full extent of your injuries. Your treating physicians are an important part of building your legal claim as well as your first line of defense in treating your accident injuries.
Most Car Accident Emergency Room Visits Don’t Result in Hospital Admission
Some people worry about hospital admission when they decide whether to go to the emergency room. However, according to the Centers for Disease Control, only 1.29% of car accident emergency room visits result in hospital admission. In most cases, you receive evaluations, diagnostic testing, and a treatment plan.
It Gives You Peace of Mind
Going to the emergency room after a car accident gives you the peace of mind to know that you’re doing everything right. You’re proving the fact that you have injuries. You’re figuring out how severe your injuries are.
With an emergency room visit, you’ve complied with the PIP insurance requirement of getting medical attention with 14 days. Knowing that you’re taking the proper steps can allow you to focus on your recovery with the confidence that you’re doing the right things after your car accident.
Should You Go to the Emergency Room After a Car Accident?
Yes, you should go to the emergency room after a car accident if there’s any sign of injuries at all. In all but the most minor car accidents, it’s a good idea to seek emergency room care. Going to the emergency room helps you receive the care you need and begin your medical treatment program immediately. It also helps you document your legal claim and take the proper steps to receive the compensation that you may deserve under state law.
How Our Tampa Car Accident Attorneys Can Help
Have you been injured in a car accident? Our Tampa car accident attorneys have helped hundreds of car accident victims just like you. Florida car accident laws are complex. At Jack Bernstein, Injury Attorneys, we want you to get the full amount of compensation that you may deserve when you’re in a car accident.
Contact our legal team for a consultation about your claim. Your initial consultation is always confidential, always friendly, and always free. Call us today.