The Importance of Having Florida Pip Coverage Explained

Florida is one of the states that offer the most comprehensive coverage for personal injury protection. The state of Florida has taken great care in designing a plan for car accident and liability coverage that fits into anyone’s pocketbook. However, getting the proper protection in place can be confusing. Because so many different companies are competing for customers within the insurance market, it becomes necessary to know what a person is looking for when looking at insurance companies and their Florida Pip Coverage. Learning about how all of the plans work, how they affect drivers, and what one needs to have in place before applying is the key to finding the best Florida car insurance policy.

A car insurance plan for Florida includes both bodily injury and property damage liability insurance. Bodily injury liability insurance protects drivers from paying for pain and suffering that arises as a result of being in an accident. Property damage liability insurance protects property owners from having their buildings damaged or destroyed as a result of vehicle accidents. Both types of coverage are required by Florida law. However, no-fault state law allows vehicle owners to choose between the two types of insurance.

According to Florida pip coverage explained, no-fault auto insurance laws usually mean that vehicle owners must carry at least bodily injury and property damage liability insurance. There is a special policy for people who own sports cars. Those who do not own sports cars but who own one or more luxury vehicles need to purchase special personal injury protection insurance in addition to bodily injury and property damage liability insurance. No-fault auto insurance laws also require vehicle owners who are at fault for at least one of the accidents in which they are involved to carry personal injury protection insurance.

According to Florida pip coverage explained, there are specific circumstances that require motorists to carry both bodily injury and property damage liability insurance. For example, if a motorist hits another motorist who is in the middle of the road, that driver may be held responsible for the injuries to the other driver as well as any damages to their vehicle. People who are hit by large trucks also need to have sufficient personal injury protection coverage. In addition, if a person owns more than one car, then they are required to carry no-fault auto insurance laws.

Another type of insurance coverage referred to as personal injury protection is designed to pay medical expenses and funeral costs related to an automobile accident. For instance, if a person is hit by an uninsured motorist, that driver may be held responsible for paying medical bills and other expenses associated with the accident even if the accident occurs while the person is under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Florida pip insurance also covers the costs related to any personal injury claim made as a result of being injured in an accident. Personal injury protection insurance is not a substitute for bodily injury and property damage liability insurance, however.

If you are in an accident in Florida and are unable to leave the scene on your own power alone, you must call 911 or other emergency medical service providers. If you are taken to a local hospital, it is important to ensure you have all of the applicable treatment and documentation needed to prove your condition. If you are in a life-threatening condition and cannot speak for yourself or provide the necessary information to emergency medical personnel, you will be placed in the life-saving or critical care unit. In the event of a death, family members may be able to file a wrongful death claim against the driver of the other vehicle.

Ideally, you will want to see a doctor immediately after an accident, even if you experience no obvious car crash symptoms. A full check-up and evaluation may be able to help your doctor find any injuries before symptoms even appear. Even if you have been to a doctor and have gotten a clean bill of health, however, stay alert for any symptoms in the days and weeks after your accident. If any develop, get a new medical evaluation.

Unfortunately, late-appearing car accident injuries can result in challenges with an insurance claim. Insurance carriers in these cases sometimes assume accident survivors are exaggerating or even fabricating their symptoms. The longer the period between your accident and your diagnosis or symptoms, the harder it becomes to establish it was the accident that caused the injury.

Insurance carriers sometimes try to claim a head injury or back injury was caused by activity that occurred after the accident.

You generally have until you settle a claim and sign a release of liability to ensure you haven’t sustained an injury. If you develop any symptoms, visit a doctor. If your symptoms appear hours or days after your car crash, consult with a personal injury attorney who can protect your best interests and can seek the compensation you deserve.

It’s estimated that 20 percent of people who experience rear end car accidents suffer from symptoms of whiplash, either immediately following the accident or as a delayed symptom.

Time is not on your side after any accident

For starters, you should always remember that time is very important after any automobile accident. Better said, the insurance company will keep track of everything you do after your car wreck. They will know if you seek treatment or if you choose to delay medical care. Moreover, your personal injury claim will be largely measured by the decisions you make in the weeks and months following your accident.

On the other hand, you can utilize your limited time to create a bullet proof case supported by pictures, documentation and medical care. A good injury clinic will carefully document all of your injuries, any treatment provided and is prepared to represent your case in court. While most injury claims get settled long before court, you should always be prepared for all worst-case scenarios.

How to satisfy the Insurance Company after your accident

Delays and Gaps for Car Accidents

Seeking medical treatment could be the best thing you can do to help build and support your personal injury claim. We all know that time is limited after any collision, and the insurance company is not kind when it comes to delays or gaps in medical care. Also, make sure that your Doctor understands the documentation required for collision injuries, and is willing to explain your treatment in court.

What if I already have a gap in treatment after my car wreck?

To begin, seeking immediate medical care is the most important thing you can do after any car wreck. However, you can still get treatment if you have postponed medical care but the limits largely depend on your state. For example, California allows up to two years to file an insurance claim. Whereas, Florida and Utah allow up to four years to file and several states give as long as six years to file a personal injury claim. You should always check the insurance claim limits in your state if your accident was more than one year old.

With this in mind, there are situations where your claim could be denied outside of delays in treatment. Common reasons for accident claim denials include:

However, you still have rights if you feel that your claim was unfairly limited or denied by the insurance company. For starters, contact your insurance company to report the appeal. Many well-known insurance companies will have an appeal process in place. Your second option is to contact the insurance commission in your state. And finally, you can always contact an attorney who specializes in Personal Injury Claims.

Common Insurance Questions

Will my insurance rates rise?

In summary, all accident victims have rights after any car wreck. However, it is up to you to seek the help you need and deserve after any car wreck. Contact us today if you or someone you love were injured in a car, semi-truck or motorcycle accident. Our network of Doctors understands how to treat and document complicated collision injuries, and we accept all forms of third party billing.

What is interventional pain management?

Interventional pain management is a branch of medicine which deals with the prevention and relief of pain through the use of minimally invasive procedures.

The American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians defines interventional pain management as a group of procedures designed to treat pain without the need for long-term medications or surgery.

The goal is to reduce or avoid symptoms, reduce stress, or improve quality of life. The number of surgical and medical surgeries performed is set by the American Society of Interventional Pain Clinics (ASIP). As the number of patients who are treated increases, that number can be followed by new complications.

Why you should try interventional pain management now

Pain is something that affects everyone in one way or another especially after an accident. Chronic pain affects millions of people and interventional pain management is the best way to treat it. We’re all unique so the best solution for your chronic pain is always going to be tailored to your individual needs.Fortunately, it doesn’t have to be complicated. We can take care of our pain using techniques that don’t require hospitalization or invasive procedures. Everything begins with choosing the right treatment plan. 

Accepting that pain is an inevitable part of life is not something you should settle for. At East Coast we will treat it in a manner to makes sure we take care of it appropriately.

 Sometimes a headache is just a headache. But if you were recently involved in an accident, neck or head pain could indicate a more serious injury that wasn’t discovered at the time of the accident. If you have suffered any of the following types of pain after an auto accident, even if it occurred days or weeks later, seek medical attention immediately!

Headaches — Pay special attention to the location and severity of the pain. It could be stress-related or a sign of concussion brain injury , whiplash, neck injury, or even a blood clot. A serious headache also could be a sign of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following the accident.

Pain in the Neck or Shoulders — This is often a sign of whiplash (a catch-all term for several different injuries), which is sometimes experienced right after an accident but sometimes doesn’t emerge until several days later. Neck and shoulder pain could also indicate a spinal injury such as a herniated disc.

Back Pain — Back pain, especially in the lower back, may also indicate a whiplash-related injury. It also could signal a sprain, herniated disc , or other soft-tissue injuries (such as muscle damage). If accompanied by tingling or numbness, it could also point to pinched nerves.

Numbness, Tingling, etc. — These types of sensations, in addition to weakness in the limbs, often indicate a herniated disc that pinches or presses up against nerves in the spine. This pinching can cause pain, tingling, numbness, and other sensations throughout the body.

Abdominal Pain — Internal, soft-tissue injuries can be very serious — even fatal — if left untreated. If you experience abdominal pain after an accident (which may surface days after the incident), get immediate medical attention. Internal bleeding also may cause headaches, dizziness, and deep bruising.

Emotional Pain and Suffering — After the initial post-accident chaos subsides, you may experience depression, anxiety, or even PTSD . This could be related to the actual incident, a result of physical injuries, or both. Brain injuries also may cause emotional pain or personality changes.

How do whiplash injuries occur?

Whiplash occurs when the muscles in your neck suffer a strain because of a rapid movement backward and then forward. The sudden motion causes your neck’s tendons and ligaments to stretch and tear, resulting in whiplash.

Some things that can cause whiplash include:

• car accidents
• physical abuse, such as being punched or shaken
• contact sports such as football, boxing, and karate
• horseback riding
• cycling accidents
• falls in which the head violently jerks backward
• blows to the head with a heavy object

What does whiplash feel like?

Symptoms usually appear within 24 hours after the incident that caused the whiplash. Sometimes, symptoms may develop after a few days. They can last for several weeks.

Common symptoms include:

• neck pain and stiffness
• headaches, specifically at the base of the skull
• dizziness
• blurred vision
• constant weariness
• Less common symptoms associated with chronic whiplash include:
• problems with concentration and memory
• ringing in the ears
• inability to sleep well

How is whiplash diagnosed?

Most mild to moderate cases of whiplash can be treated at home using over-the-counter (OTC) drugs, ice, and other remedies. However, you should seek medical help if you have the following symptoms:

• pain or stiffness in the neck that goes away and then returns
• severe neck pain
• pain, numbness, or tingling in your shoulders, arms, or legs
• any issues with your bladder or bowels
• localized weakness in an arm or leg

Your doctor will normally ask you questions about your injury, such as how it occurred, where you feel pain, and whether the pain is dull, shooting, or sharp. They may also do a physical exam to check your range of motion and look for areas of tenderness.

Your doctor might order an X-ray to ensure your pain isn’t connected to any other type of injury or degenerative disease such as arthritis Other tests, such as CT scans MRI , will allow your doctor to assess any damage or inflammation in the soft tissues, spinal cord, or nerves. Certain imaging studies, such as diffuse tensor imaging (DTI) or positron emission tomography (PET scan) , may be helpful, especially when there may be a brain injury. These tests will help localize and measure the extent of an injury to the brain or other areas.

The treatments for whiplash are relatively simple. Doctors will often prescribe an OTC pain medication like Tylenol or aspirin. More severe injuries may require prescription painkillers and muscle relaxants to reduce muscle spasms.

In addition to medication, physical therapy plays a crucial role in recovery. You may want to apply ice or heat to the injured area and practice simple exercises to build strength and flexibility in your neck. Practice good posture and learn relaxation techniques to keep your neck muscles from straining and to help with recovery.

You might also be given a foam collar to keep your neck stable. Collars should not be worn for more than three hours at a time. They should only be used the first couple of days after your injury, as well.

Why Do I Need a Neurologist After My Car Accident?

If you sustained any type of neurological injury, don’t leave your care to a general practitioner. Untreated neurological injuries can lead to ongoing pain and degenerative ailments. Your symptoms often won’t go away on their own. Instead, they will worsen over time.

What Are the Symptoms of Neurological Injury?

There are many symptoms of a neurological injury, and each of these should be treated with equal gravity. After a car wreck, don’t assume that the symptoms will get better when you go home. The impact of a vehicle accident is stronger than you think, and you must seek care immediately.

Neurology is more than “just” your head.

While most people probably think that neurology “only” deals with the head and brain, neurology is actually the study and treatment of disorders of the entire nervous system, which includes the central nervous system (your brain and spine) as well as the rest of your nerves.

Your nerves run from your brain and spinal cord to all areas of your body, including your fingertips and toes, and can all be negatively impacted in a car accident. A neurologist can recognize the early stages of such an injury, and start treating it right away before the injury gets worse.

PT Supports The Recovery Process

Patients often don’t realize how bad their car accident-related injuries are until after they’ve returned to their normal daily activities. Common injuries typically include pain, stiffness, reduced range of motion, and chronic headaches or migraines. As such, it’s important patients undergo physical therapy to aid the recovery process. Physical therapy can help car accident victims increase their strength, improve their flexibility, and subsequently keep pain symptoms at bay. Our specially-designed therapy regimens can help patients bounce back from their injuries faster and easier than staying in bed can, that’s for sure!

 PT Can Prevent Long-Term Damage

As we alluded to in the previously post, physical therapy not only helps address immediate injuries by improving strength, flexibility, and mobility, but it can also prevent long-term damage like chronic pain and migraines. Unfortunately, car accidents can cause lingering damage if the patient’s injuries are not addressed right away. If you begin physical therapy immediately after your accident, you are much more likely to live a relatively pain-free life for years and years to come. In fact, a Medscape study found patients who did not receive care immediately after their car accident were far more likely to suffer from degenerative disc disease than those who did receive immediate medical attention.

Physical therapy can treat invisible injuries

After a car accident, it may take several hours, or even days, for many symptoms of certain injuries to appear. A few examples include headaches, numbness, lightheadedness, whiplash and general discomfort. Whiplash alone, when it is left untreated, can lead to chronic neck pain, upper back and shoulder pain, numbness, and headaches.

Two more “invisible injuries” are scar tissue, and micro-tears on the muscles inside the body. While you can’t see this on the outside, these internal micro-tears and scars can result in your body becoming stiff and uncomfortable. These issues aren’t just invisible, they often aren’t even detected by an X-ray.

After a car accident doctor diagnoses your injuries, a physical therapist can use special techniques such as massage and ultrasound therapy to release a natural anti-inflammatory that reduces your pain while reducing internal inflammation.