Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently asked questions when in an auto mobile accident

Should I go to the doctor?
Never hesitate to get checked out by medical professionals, even if you feel fine. Many times the onset of physical complaints may not appear until 12 to 24 hours after an accident. Even if you did not feel symptoms immediately following an accident, you may feel differently the following day.

It is also important that you get immediate medical attention if you feel any pain or discomfort. Many people hope that their pain will go away on its own and wait for several weeks before finally seeking medical treatment. An examination by a doctor following the accident will ensure a proper preliminary diagnosis, and may minimize your discomfort, reducing future treatment you may need.

Follow the doctor's advice. This means adhering to your individual treatment plan for appointments and therapies. Not only will it validate your claim, but you will begin to feel better sooner by minimizing your discomfort more quickly than if you do not receive treatment.

If you have been in a serious accident, chances are that someone has already made a record of what has happened. If your condition required immediate medical care, hospital records will confirm your injuries. Make sure you promptly follow-up with treatment from your regular doctor or an appropriate specialist.


What should I tell my doctor during my initial consultation?
When you are reporting your injury to paramedics, hospital staff, and doctors, take extra care to identify specific complaints. Do not omit any symptoms you may have, no matter how minor they may seem. A dry mouth, a light headache, and a little dizziness may be evidence of something more serious. Anything that is out of the ordinary may be a symptom of something more. Reporting it will assist your doctor in making an informed diagnosis and rendering a medical opinion.

For example, a patient who has very slight tingling in the fourth and fifth fingers and a minor muscle spasm in the neck may not report the tingling sensation. Tingling sensations in the fingers may be due to an injury to a disc in the neck, or cervical spine. Without appropriate treatment that addresses this area of the body, there is a higher chance of future injury to the disc that may be irreversible, such as a rupture or hernia ion of the contents of the disc. If serious enough, a trauma in this area may require surgery to repair extensive damage that may have been avoided. If the symptoms had been initially reported by the patient, a care plan addressing this area would have been determined to treat both the muscle pain and the involved disc in the spine. In addition, proper documentation of symptoms on your initial visit will help to validate that the injury is a result of your recent accident, and not a complication that arose at a later point in time, strengthening your case.


Should I talk to the other driver’s insurance company? What if they call me?
Never give an oral statement to the other side’s insurance company. If you are contacted, be polite, but decline to talk.

Should I contact my own insurance company?
Most auto insurance companies require their policyholders to promptly report every auto accident. Your insurance company will need to gather all of the basic information concerning the accident for its records, regardless of which party was at fault.

Sometimes, an insurance company will want your authorization to make a documented statement concerning the accident. If you or any passengers with you at the time of the accident were injured as a result, or if you believe the insurance company might try to deny your coverage, the best course of action is to contact the Medical Specialists of Tampa Bay before proceeding any further. If your insurance company asks to record any conversation related to your accident, consult your attorney first. They will give you the proper legal advice on how best to handle your specific situation. , and certainly before you give the insurance company permission to record your conversation (NOTE: You should never give a statement to the other driver’s insurance company without consulting with an attorney). Remember that you are required to provide information to your insurance company about your accident in a timely manner. If you are not sure how soon information regarding your accident is required, consult your specific policy which will set forth how quickly you must notify the company. Failure to provide necessary information may result in loss of coverage for the accident without it constituting bad faith by the insurer.

I want to purchase a vehicle in Florida. What is the minimum type of insurance I must purchase to register my vehicle?
By law, you must purchase the minimum amount of insurance required by the state of Florida to register your vehicle. The current amount for minimum coverage in Florida is $10,000 Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and $10,000 Property Damage Liability (PDL), as long as you have a valid Florida license plate. The Florida Motor Vehicle No-Fault Law requires all owner/registrants of a motor vehicle with four wheels or more to carry a minimum of $10,000 of Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and $10,000 of property damage liability (PDL) if you own a motor vehicle in Florida. Florida law requires you to maintain PIP/PDL insurance continuously throughout the licensing and registration period.


What is "Personal Injury Protection" (PIP) insurance?
Also called “Florida No Fault Insurance”, Personal Injury Protection (PIP) is insurance that covers you in an automobile related accident, regardless of who was at fault, up to the limits of your policy. Your PIP will also cover your children, members of your household, and certain passengers who lack their own PIP insurance, as long as they do not own a vehicle. People riding in your vehicle who carry PIP will receive coverage under their own insurance policy’s PIP for their injuries. PIP will cover certain licensed drivers to whom you have given permission to operate your vehicle, if they are involved in an accident while driving.

PIP also covers your child if he or she suffers an injury while riding on a school bus. In addition, PIP coverage protects you when you are a passenger in someone else's vehicle involved in an accident. The coverage also extends to any injuries caused as the result of an accident involving an automobile, such as if you are struck and injured as a pedestrian or while riding a bicycle.

Does company insurance or Workman's Comp cover car accidents while working?
If you were injured in a vehicle while at your job or during a work related commute, you are covered by your own auto PIP Insurance. Your personal PIP insurance is your best choice to use in such a circumstance because it allows YOU to choose your care.

What rights do you have if you don’t report an accident to the insurance company right away?
You have up to three years to report an accident to your insurance company. Attempting to handle auto claims out-of-pocket, when insurance is available, is not recommended.


Will my rates go up after an accident if it is not my fault?
No


What happens if an uninsured and unlicensed person has an auto accident?
If an unlicensed driver is involved in an automobile accident, they are responsible by default because they are operating a vehicle illegally.


What if the insurance company offers me a check right away?
Before you accept or sign any agreement offered by an insurance company, be sure that you are aware of your legal rights and options. Accepting a check may mean that you are giving up your right to file a claim for any future damages or unanticipated medical care related to your accident, or if you have to take an extended leave from work as a result of your injuries. Consult an attorney before you begin negotiations with the insurance company.

I was in an accident over one week ago. I was feeling fine, but now I’m in pain. Is it too late to late to go to the doctor? I was involved in an accident that occurred more than a week ago. At the time, I felt fine, but now I am in pain. Is it too late for me to seek medical treatment?
Absolutely not. It is very common to only begin to feel pain after a period of time has elapsed following involvement in an accident. This is why it is recommended to seek out medical treatment as soon as possible. If you have chosen to wait, it is important to see a doctor right as soon as you can.

Who is covered under PIP?
1. Policyholders relatives in the same household
2. Other authorized drivers

How can I tell if a car accident has caused my injuries?
The only way to be sure if your injuries are related to your accident is to have an examination performed by a qualified medical professional, such as a Medical Doctor (M.D.), Chiropractic Physician (D.C.), Orthopedic Doctor (D.O.) or Nurse Practitioner (A.R.N.P.). If you have never had a back injury of any kind before, it is quite likely that your injury was caused as a result of your car accident. If you did have a prior injury, your car accident may have aggravated your prior injury by making it worse, or you may even have a new unrelated injury. Imaging such as an MRI, CT scan or X-ray are often used as diagnostic tools to evaluate injuries following a car accident. Once they have received the report of findings following an imaging study, your doctor may refer you to a specialist for a further evaluation and recommendations for the best treatment plan for your specific case. You may be referred to a Neurologist, TMJ Dentist, Physical Therapist, Chiropractor, Orthopedic Surgeon, or a Neuro Surgeon for a consultation.

How long after my car accident do I have to make a claim?
The length of time to bring a claim is determined by the Statute of Limitations in Florida, as stated in Florida Statutes Section 95, WITHIN FOUR YEARS for the following: an action founded on negligence, such as for a car accident, or an action for injury to a person founded on the design, manufacture, distribution, or sale of personal property that is not permanently incorporated in an improvement to real property, including fixtures, or an action founded on a statutory liability, or an action for trespass on real property, or an action for taking, detaining, or injuring personal property, or an action for assault, battery, false arrest, malicious prosecution, malicious interference, false imprisonment, or any other intentional tort, except as provided in subsections (4), (5), and (7).

What should I do if I have been involved in a minor car accident?
No matter how minor the car accident, you should always obtain the other driver’s license and vehicle information as well as their insurance company contact information. In addition, you should note the make and model of car the other driver was driving, as well as the location of the damage to both vehicles, and make a diagram of where the accident occurred.

You must report accidents to your insurance company in accordance with the terms and conditions of your insurance policy. Failure to report a claim may constitute a basis to deny the claim. Even if you do not wish to pursue a claim in regards to the damage to your car, you should report the claim as informational. Often, injuries in a minor car accident are not immediately apparent. You may find that you are experiencing pain or discomfort the day after an accident that you did not notice at the time of the crash. If you experience pain following an accident, you should see a physician. Only a trained professional can make the determination if you are injured or not, and the extent of the injuries you have suffered following an accident.