How to Choose a Doctor After a Florida Car Accident

Searcy Denney Scarola Barnhart & Shipley
Contact

Searcy Denney Scarola Barnhart & Shipley

Car accidents range from not too bad (i.e., no one was seriously injured and it was someone else’s fault), to catastrophic (meaning people were seriously injured or killed and it was your fault). Still, they are never a positive experience, even if they may be a valuable learning experience.

Once the smoke has literally and figuratively cleared, one of your first major decisions is choosing the right doctor for you and your particular circumstances. If you have been involved in a car accident, let a Florida accident lawyer help.

Types of Doctors Available in Florida

Your health is your primary concern after a car accident. Depending on the severity of your injuries, you may consider working with:

  • An Emergency Room Doctor. ER doctors are your best bet if your injuries are severe and/or the accident happened late at night when most doctors’ offices and urgent care facilities are closed.
  • An Urgent Care Doctor. Urgent care doctors are best when your injuries are not life-threatening, but the pain or other complications make it too difficult to wait and make an appointment. You can generally walk into an urgent care facility.
  • Your Primary Care Doctor. Although appointments with your regular doctor may take a few days, they are likely your cheapest option, assuming you are at fault and depending on your insurance coverage.

Tips for Finding the Best Doctor For You

  • Seek Medical Care Immediately. Failure to do so may be interpreted as a lack of urgency or serious injury by the courts.
  • Consider a Doctor Other Than Your Primary Care Doctor. As indicated above, your primary care doctor may not be your best option. Many primary care doctors will not even see car accident victims but will direct you to a specialist instead, and many primary care doctors will not accept third-party billing.
  • Find a Doctor That Treats Car Accidents Victims and Accepts Third-Party Billing. Auto accident doctors know what questions to ask and what types of injuries, such as soft-tissue injuries, are common in car accidents.
  • Be Sure to Document Your Injuries Thoroughly. Car accident doctors typically understand the importance of injury documentation but make sure that every injury is documented. Some injuries that seem inconsequential at first evolve into serious medical problems.
  • Continue With Your Treatment Until You Reach Until You Reach Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI). Failure to follow your doctor’s instructions and continue treatment until you are “cured” (MMI) may be interpreted as a lack of urgency or serious injury by the courts.

Contact a Florida Accident Lawyer at After a Car Accident

Seeking medical treatment after a car accident can be painful and time-consuming, but is nonetheless exceptionally important.  

[View source.]

DISCLAIMER: Because of the generality of this update, the information provided herein may not be applicable in all situations and should not be acted upon without specific legal advice based on particular situations.

© Searcy Denney Scarola Barnhart & Shipley | Attorney Advertising

Written by:

Searcy Denney Scarola Barnhart & Shipley
Contact
more
less

PUBLISH YOUR CONTENT ON JD SUPRA NOW

  • Increased visibility
  • Actionable analytics
  • Ongoing guidance

Searcy Denney Scarola Barnhart & Shipley on:

Reporters on Deadline

"My best business intelligence, in one easy email…"

Your first step to building a free, personalized, morning email brief covering pertinent authors and topics on JD Supra:
*By using the service, you signify your acceptance of JD Supra's Privacy Policy.
Custom Email Digest
- hide
- hide