Tampa’s busy highways, like I-275 and Dale Mabry, see thousands of vehicle collisions each year, leaving drivers uncertain where to find proper medical care. The decisions you make in the hours and days following a vehicle collision directly impact both your health and any potential legal case.
At Suli & Martinez Attorney at Law, our experienced car accident attorneys help Tampa crash victims navigate their medical treatment and legal rights after a collision. Our legal team guides clients through the process of securing fair compensation while they focus on healing.
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Do I Have To Seek Medical Care After a Car Accident in Florida?
No, Florida law does not require you to seek medical care after a vehicle crash. However, getting medical attention protects both your health and your legal rights. Many crash injuries, like whiplash or concussions, develop symptoms hours or days later. Waiting to rule out any internal injuries could your health at risk. Your Florida Personal Injury Protection insurance covers your upfront medical expenses regardless of fault, up to the limits of your PIP insurance limits.
Seeking immediate medical care also protects any legal case you may need to pursue to recover your medical costs, property damage and other losses. Your initial medical examination at the ER or urgent care center is documented in your medical records. This important documentation serves as evidence that helps to link your injuries to the crash that caused them. Without medical documentation, insurance companies have room to question injuries that are not treated promptly after a collision. They may dispute that they are severe or that they happened in the crash at all. Adjusters may argue that gaps in your treatment prove your injuries are not as severe as you claim.
What Are My Options for Medical Care After a Car Crash in Tampa?
Tampa offers several medical care options for crash victims, from emergency rooms to specialized injury clinics. Victims who understand their choices can get the quickly get the treatment they need.
Emergency Rooms and Trauma Centers
Emergency rooms provide the most comprehensive care after a vehicle crash. Tampa’s emergency departments have advanced diagnostic equipment like CT scans and MRIs to detect internal injuries. Emergency room doctors and other on-call specialists can identify serious conditions, like a brain bleed or punctured lung, that other facilities might miss.
Urgent Care Centers
Urgent care centers treat minor crash injuries when emergency rooms are not necessary. These facilities handle cuts, bruises, and minor pain but lack advanced diagnostic equipment or the specialists needed to assess more serious injuries. Tampa has numerous urgent care locations throughout Hillsborough County for convenient access.
Primary Care Physicians
Your family doctor can provide follow-up care after initial emergency treatment. Primary care physicians monitor your recovery and refer you to specialists when needed. However, most family doctors cannot see patients immediately after a crash occurs.
How Soon After a Crash Should I Seek Medical Care?
Seek medical attention as soon as possible after your car crash. Many serious injuries, like concussions and internal bleeding, show no immediate symptoms but require prompt treatment. Adrenaline and shock mask pain during the first few hours after a collision.
Florida law requires you to seek medical treatment within 14 days to qualify for Personal Injury Protection benefits. Getting immediate medical care protects both your health and your legal rights after a vehicle collision.
What If I Am Partially to Blame for My Tampa Car Accident?
You can still recover compensation in Florida even if you share some blame for the vehicle collision. Florida follows modified comparative negligence laws that reduce your settlement by your percentage of fault. If you are 20 percent at fault, you receive 80 percent of the total damages awarded.
Insurance companies aggressively try to shift more blame onto crash victims to reduce payouts. They investigate your driving history, cell phone records, and crash scene evidence to maximize your fault percentage. Having experienced legal representation protects you from unfair blame assignment and ensures you receive fair compensation for your injuries.
Injured in a Car Accident? Contact Our Trusted Suli & Martinez Car Accident Lawyers
At Suli & Martinez Attorney at Law, our car accident lawyers understand why seeking proper medical care after a Tampa car crash is vital to your ongoing physical recovery and legal case.
Contact our knowledgeable legal team today to protect your health and financial future after a vehicle collision.
Need Legal Help? Call Our Trusted Law Firm Today. 1 (855) SULI-LAW