We have tried to answer most frequently asked questions on this page to remove some of the confusion you may be experiencing, if you have been involved in a car accident. Many people have no idea of who to see or what to do after a accident. Educate yourself and not become a statistic. These questions and answers involve Finding doctors after accidents, Attorneys, Insurance companies and what you should do after an accident.
Absolutely go see a doctor and do not wait to do it. There are many reasons for you to go see a doctor after an accident, and only a few as to why you should wait. Waiting may hurt your personal injury case, if you have one. It can also hurt you, the injured party later down the road. You may have delayed symptoms of a more major underlying issue. Waiting to seek medical care from a doctor after you have been injured in a car accident can have devastating effects on a personal injury case. One thing the insurance company will look at is how quickly you receive or seek medical attention after your car accident, a day, a week, a month? Minor accidents can cause underlying injuries that may not be detected right away.
When you have been in an accident and are injured. Who do you go see? Do you go to your primary care physician, or do you do to an accident doctor. Someone who specializes in auto accidents. They know how to treat people with accident related injuries. There is nothing wrong with going to a primary care physician. Accidents are a different kind of injury. When you break a bone in your body, who do you go see? You go see a specialist; they tend to be the best at what they do. An accident doctor is a doctor that specializes in auto type injuries. Auto injuries generally tend to be what is called “soft tissue” injuries. That means nothing is broken, but you are still in pain. This pain is caused by torn muscles and ligaments.
We generally recommend seeking treatment within 72 hours after any serious car accident. Of course, PIP coverage gives all passengers access to medical care after any car accident, but you must receive treatment within the time determined by your State. You can always call one of our doctors to see if you qualify for PIP coverage or check online. In addition, delayed treatment may lead to additional injuries and could hurt your personal injury claim. Your body is in a weakened state after any serious collision, which leaves you vulnerable to pain that progressively gets worse. Make sure that your physician understands the documentation required for personal injury cases and accepts third party billing.
Insurance companies use advanced computer software models to calculate injury claims. In these models, 72 hours is commonly seen as a reasonable amount of time to seek medical treatment if you are hurt. Moreover, the insurance company is incentivized to limit your injury claim. They will look at delays and gaps in treatment as signs that you are not truly injured, which could damage your claim. Additionally, many injuries are considered Soft Tissue Injuries. And while soft tissue damage sounds harmless, many STIs can lead to permanent damage and pain if left untreated. STIs may take days or even weeks to feel and are nearly undetectable with X-Rays, MRI or other imaging. Don’t delay treatment if you have been injured in a car, bus or slip and fall accident. Early detection is one of the keys to a speedy recovery.
A medical doctor, chiropractor, pain management, orthopedic, neurologist, or physical therapist. These doctors are trained or treat personal type injuries. There billing structure is set up in a way that is different from your average primary case physician.
These doctors may bill
The auto insurance company
Third party
Pip or personal injury protection
no fault
Med Pay
Attorney’s Lien
Medical Lien
Not all Doctors welcome personal injury patients for several reasons. For one, many family physicians want their money up front. For example, many Urgent Care Clinics will only accept health care or cash for payment, like your Family PCP. Make sure to ask the Doctor if they accept third party billing for car accidents before seeking treatment.
In states that offer PIP or No-Fault coverage, you should not pay out of pocket for medical care following an auto accident. PIP insurance allows the doctor to bill the insurance company directly, without the need for an attorney. However, if your injuries require more treatment than PIP will cover, then you may need to hire an Attorney. Talk to your Doctor about the pros and cons of using an attorney.
The insurance company uses a software model that recognizes a chiropractor as a qualified physician. A chiropractor is a doctor with a specialized focus on more natural, noninvasive medical care. Chiropractors can do more than just crack your neck and back. A good Chiropractor will provide a medical exam like your Family PCP; however, they cannot prescribe certain medications. you have suffered soft tissue injuries, your chiropractor is your go to. A chiropractor is trained to treat soft tissue injuries.
A primary care doctor may give you some painkillers and muscle relaxers and send you home with a follow up two weeks later. You want to make sure you are free from pain and healthy following an auto accident. If you chose to do nothing about your auto injuries, it’s possible those injuries could be with you for quite some time. Research shows that you can suffer injuries even if you have minor or no physical damage done to your car. A chiropractor can treat soft tissue injuries perhaps better than any other doctor. Issues a chiropractor can address
Third party billing for car accidents does not include health insurance. Moreover, the insurance company will likely deny your claim, leaving you owing the medical bills. Third party billing includes Liens from an attorney, PIP, NO Fault, Med Pay and other standard automobile insurance plans. It is always a good idea to ask your Injury Doctor if they accept third party billing before receiving treatment. This will ensure that you do not get stuck paying out of pocket for treatment.
How long you will be sore after a car accident depends on what type of injury you sustained. You could be sore for a few days, weeks, or months.
Med Pay or medical payments should not be confused with Pip. In the event of an auto accident, medical payments cover your medical cost. Med pay is very important if you don’t have health insurance or the means to pay for the care out of pocket. Med pay coverage covers you and anyone in your car. It does not matter if the accident was your fault or not, you are still covered for medical costs. More med pay information can be found here
Pip stands for personal injury protection. Pip is mandatory in some states. Pip covers medical cost, and in some cases lost wages, etc. Pip coverage usually ranges from 1500.00-250, 000.00.PIP can cover the medical and funeral expenses of the insured. It can cover others in the vehicle at the time of the loss. It also can cover pedestrians struck by the covered vehicle. Pip and no-fault laws vary by state. Please check the law in your state. Pip and no fault will cover your medical expenses no matter who was at fault for the accident. This means you can go get medical care for your injury without having to worry about who is going to pay the bill. If the accident was your fault and you live in a Pip or a no-fault state, go see the accident doctor immediately.
An attorney’s lien is a document for which an attorney and a doctor come to an agreement. The doctor agrees to hold the bill until the case settles. When your personal injury case is settled, the doctor will get paid at that time. In many cases, the doctor agrees to take a lesser amount than he has billed for your medical care.
A medical lien is an agreement between the patient and the doctor. The patient agrees to pay the doctor out of the proceeds when his or her case is settled. Many doctors don’t like this because there is no element of protection for them getting paid.
Accident Lawyers are very similar to specialists. They handle nothing but auto and truck accidents, which makes them good at what they do, if not the best. Not all Attorneys are created equal though. Some attorneys only want your case for the money. Nothing is wrong with making money, but they need to do the best job they can do. Lawyers don’t need to just settle and move on to the next case; they need to work your case to the fullest. If you ever need a great attorney to help you with your car accident, just ask the doctor. Our accident doctors work with the best attorneys in your area.
Personal injury attorneys help you by making sure the insurance company pays you for your injury, lost wages, pain and suffering, etc. And can argue on your behalf and help you achieve the best outcome for your situation. That’s not saying you need an attorney for every accident. However, it never hurts to take advantage of a free consultation.
Third party billing for car accidents does not include health insurance. Moreover, the insurance company will likely deny your claim, leaving you owing the medical bills. Third party billing includes Liens from an attorney, PIP, NO Fault, Med Pay and other standard automobile insurance plans. It is always a good idea to ask your Injury Doctor if they accept third party billing before receiving treatment. This will ensure that you do not get stuck paying out of pocket for treatment.
Speak with an attorney before giving any statement. In some cases, they will use this against you in the future. Things they may ask in a recorded statement
It’s possible they may try and shift blame for the accident on you. Do yourself a favor and don’t give a recorded statement unless you have spoken with an attorney first.
I think that may depend on what the check is for. If the check is for property damage, it will say on the check for property damage only. However, if it says something like for full and final settlement of this claim, don’t cash it or put it in the bank. If you do, you may have just settled your claim for bodily injury.
No, you do not. You can take your car anywhere you want. However, the insurance company does make it easier on you if you take it to one of their preferred body shops. More info on this.
This is the time limit for which a lawsuit can be filed for compensation. Either for your injuries, or your property damage. Time frames various from state to state as well as property damage to personal injury time frames.
Whiplash is torn muscles and ligaments in the neck and upper back. Whiplash sometimes has a delay onset. This means, although you are injured, you don’t feel any pain right away. It’s important to go see an accident doctor after you have been in an auto accident. If you are not injured its peace of mind, if you are, then the doctor can quickly start treating your injury. This will reduce your healing time. If you wait, you could be in quite a lot of pain, and down time may be increased.
Documentation of an injury is medical records, doctors’ notes, X-rays. Without proper documentation of your injury, you might not get the maximum settlement you deserve, if one at all. An accident doctor is a physician that knows how to document an injury. Without proper documentation you might not even have a personal injury case. The lawyer uses this documentation to prove your injury. Poor or improper documentation may devalue a personal injury case dramatically. See an accident doctor today to get your injury properly documented. Don’t take chances with the welfare of you or your family
It is illegal for a doctor or an attorney to call you after a car accident in most states. We call it illegal running in the doctor industry. Doctors and attorneys will hire an individual to solicit their services to you. They get your number by bribing or paying people related to your accident in most cases. Such as the police, accident report clerks, tow truck drivers, emergency rooms.
