Catania and Catania | June 1, 2022 | Car Accidents
The common question, “who pays for physical therapy after a car accident?” usually starts with Florida’s personal injury protection. PIP, as it is often termed, tends to pay a percentage of your medical expenses, including therapy, regardless of fault.
However, PIP may not cover all costs, especially for extended or specialized care. The at-fault driver’s liability insurance or additional coverage may help. A Tampa car accident attorney can guide you through your options to ensure therapy expenses are covered.
Can Physical Therapy Help You After a Car Accident?
Yes, physical therapy is very important in recovery to improve mobility, reduce pain, and avert long-term complications. Even the least serious injuries in car accidents can often develop into continuous pain or loss of function if left unaddressed. The treatment in physical therapy allows for:
- Strengthening the injured muscles and joints to restore stability, enabling one to handle daily activities.
- Improving flexibility and range of motion, enabling better movement and reducing stiffness.
- Reducing inflammation by therapeutic exercises, ultrasound therapy, and manual techniques.
- Preventing scar tissue from building up and causing adhesions further reduces mobility.
Physical therapy in Tampa is particularly important because of the high rate of traffic accidents, which usually involve injuries such as whiplash, back pain, and fractures. Victims of such accidents have a great chance of regaining full functionality, reducing long-term discomfort or disability, and improving their quality of life if physical therapy is initiated early. Early treatment provides the greatest results and less risk for complications to occur later.
What Should I Do if I Need Physical Therapy After a Car Accident?
It is crucial that you seek prompt medical care after a car crash. Delays in medical care could result in allegations of failure to mitigate damages. The insurance company might allege that you would have sought immediate treatment if you were injured in the accident.
As soon as you can, talk to a car accident lawyer about your case. Florida insurance laws and personal injury claims can be confusing. An attorney assesses your case, explains your rights, and advises you of your options for seeking compensation for damages.
Does My Insurance Cover Physical Therapy After a Car Accident?
Physical therapy is a standard treatment for many injuries. However, paying for the treatment can be challenging, especially if you are out of work because of your car accident.
Before you assume that you have to pay for the physical therapy out of pocket, you should consider all payment sources available to you. For example, you could have several insurance policies that might pay for your physical therapy bills after a car wreck.
No-Fault Insurance Coverage
No-fault insurance is mandatory for all motor vehicle owners in Florida. Car owners must purchase $10,000 of Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance coverage. No-fault insurance pays benefits to the insured party, regardless of who caused the motor vehicle accident.
Your PIP insurance policy would cover you if you were injured in a car crash. It would cover you if you were the driver or a passenger in a car. It also would cover you if a vehicle struck you while you were walking or bicycling.
PIP insurance pays up to 80% of your medical bills after a car accident, including physical therapy bills. However, you must seek treatment within 14 days of the accident. Also, the insurance company may only be liable for up to $2,500 in medical bills if you did not sustain an “emergency” medical condition.
Furthermore, you must seek treatment from a medical provider with a valid license. Licensing and registration for physical therapists are handled by the Florida Board of Physical Therapy.
Health Insurance Coverage
Your health insurance company might pay your physical therapy bills when you exhaust your PIP benefits. However, payments would be subject to your health insurance policy terms. Therefore, you would need to pay the deductible and co-pays for therapy.
Also, if you receive a personal injury settlement for the car accident, your health insurance company may exercise its subrogation rights. Most health insurance policies contain a subrogation clause. The clause gives the insurance company the right to receive reimbursement for any bills it paid related to the accident from your settlement proceeds.
Liability Insurance Policy
You might receive reimbursement for physical therapy bills and other damages from the other driver’s liability insurance company. However, for the other driver’s insurance company to be liable for damages, you have the burden of proving:
- You sustained serious injuries that give you the right to sue the other driver under Florida’s no-fault insurance laws;
- The other driver caused the car accident;
- The car accident was the direct and proximate cause of your injuries; AND;
- You required physical therapy as part of your treatment.
If you can prove fault, causation, and damages, you should be able to recover compensation for your economic damages, including medical bills. You can also receive compensation for your pain and suffering and other non-economic damages.
Uninsured Motorist Insurance
If the at-fault driver did not have insurance coverage, you might receive reimbursement for physical therapy bills and other damages from your insurance company. However, you must have purchased uninsured motorist insurance coverage as part of your insurance policy.
Uninsured motorist coverage compensates you for damages caused by an uninsured driver. However, you must prove that the uninsured driver caused the car accident and that the accident caused your injuries.
Your insurance company may fight your claim. For example, it could argue that the accident did not cause your injuries or that your injuries are not as severe as you claim. In addition, the insurance company might allege that you contributed to the cause of the accident, so you are not entitled to full compensation for damages under Florida’s contributory fault laws.
For How Long Should I Take Physical Therapy?
Session numbers will differ by the extent of your injuries, the part of the body concerned, and how fast the recovery rate is. Some minor ones, like those on the spine, may be done in a few weeks, whereas serious ones that affect nerve damage or serious tissue injury can take several months. Chronic conditions may have longer treatment plans of more than six months.
Some of the determining factors include:
- Injury severity: an injury’s size is proportional to the treatment time. Treatment that may involve surgery or any other procedures may take longer.
- Affected body part: Ligaments and tendons heal more slowly than muscles because of the intricate structure and little blood flow.
- Healing rate: Vary from person to person depending on age, health status, and adherence to the proposed therapeutic approach. Lifestyle factors may include diet and activity level.
Instead, the focus should be on specific rehabilitation goals rather than a fixed timeline. Similarly, regular assessment by your therapist will monitor your progress and help modify your plan. Communicating your personal concerns with the doctor will also ensure that therapy is focused on the individual’s ultimate recovery.
What’s the Process to File an Injury Claim After a Car Accident?
Filing an injury claim after a car accident requires several steps, which are all crucial in securing the compensation you need and deserve.
Seek medical attention immediately
Florida law insists that you attend to your injured self within 14 days of your accident for it to consider your entitlement to PIP benefits and ensure all injuries sustained from the accident are documented accordingly.
Document your injuries and treatment
Retain records regarding the injury, medical visits, physical therapy, associated costs, medication, and any further treatment resulting from the recovery.
Notify your insurance provider
Send them a claim to unlock your PIP benefits. Provide the complete and necessary paperwork without delay. It would include an accident report, medical records, and all receipts regarding associated expenses.
Consult a car accident attorney
An experienced lawyer can help you navigate complex insurance claims, negotiate with insurers, and pursue compensation beyond PIP limits.
File a lawsuit if necessary
If insurance proves to be less than adequate, your attorney may advise filing a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault party.
A knowledgeable Tampa car accident attorney can facilitate this process by guaranteeing you meet deadlines and follow legal requirements to maximize your compensation.
Contact Our Car Accident Law Firm in Tampa, FL
If you’ve been injured in an accident in Tampa, FL, and need legal help, contact our Tampa car accident lawyers at Catania & Catania Injury Lawyers to schedule a free consultation.
Catania & Catania Injury Lawyers
Bank of America Plaza
101 E Kennedy Blvd #2400
Tampa, FL 33602
(813) 222-8656
We also provide legal assistance throughout the Tampa Bay Area including Clearwater, St. Petersburg, Sarasota, and Bradenton.
