As soon as you feel that impact, your brain begins to spin. Am I hurt? Is the other person, ok? How badly is my car damaged? Will my insurance go up? There is now a whole list of things to think about, consider and deal with. If you are in pain, it makes this process a whole lot more trying.
Directly following an accident, you will be asked if you would like to go to the hospital to be checked out. That is a personal decision only you can make. Regardless of if you choose to go or not, in Florida, you have only 14 days to seek medical treatment for an accident from any and all sources. The claim of injury must be initiated, or you relinquish your rights legally to be covered under your insurance’s PIP (personal injury protection) as well as potentially your right to sue for damages.
Besides going to the ER to be checked for broken or dislocated bones as well as internal injuries it is highly advisable to go see your chiropractor as soon after the accident as possible. While you may not have broken anything, even a minor fender bender can knock your body out of alignment and cause soft tissue damage.
Soft tissue injuries lead to swelling, inflammation, and pain. It is important that they are treated properly to ensure the best healing circumstance possible and get you on the road to recovery.
When you visit your chiropractor, a claim will be initiated by your insurance carrier. You may also keep a journal and claim mileage to and from all medically related appointments for reimbursement. They will pay your doctor(s) directly in your name. This allows you to get the treatment you need with no upfront out-of-pocket cost.
PIP with no additional medical coverage selected in Florida is valued at $10,000. This can go a long way getting you back to health. If you have elected additional medical coverage that can be utilized as well. If medical bills exceed your allowed amounts, you may want to consult with an auto injury attorney as well.
Your health should be your number one concern in an accident. Here at the offices of Kaster Chiropractic and Associates, we specialize in auto accident recovery offering not only chiropractic but many alternative adjacent therapies such as decompression, ultrasound, and electro-stimulation as well as therapeutic massage services right in the office.
Give us a call at 239-332-2555 to schedule your appointment. You can also download our Kaster Chiropractic app to keep on your phone for great health information as well as a one-click way to contact our office should you be in an auto accident.