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Will There Will Be A Car Accident Investigation?

The at-fault party’s insurance company will immediately launch an auto accident investigation to reduce their payout.

This investigation includes taking statements from the parties and witnesses and collecting physical evidence, such as photographs and even the damaged vehicles.

While the insurance company attempts to avoid liability, most auto accident victims are left to deal with the personal and financial effects of the trauma. This reality is why it’s important to have a specialist on your side. We won’t let the insurance company take advantage of you.

Should I Seek Medical Attention After An Accident?

Most people avoid doctor appointments after a vehicle accident. However, after a severe auto crash, it is important to follow medical advice to give yourself the best and fastest chance to heal.

Seek medical care immediately after an injury and avoid missing appointments with your healthcare professionals.

Should I Tell My Doctor About Prior Injuries?

Your auto accident case value is determined by evidence from several places, especially your doctors. Most people who require treatment will get better; however, some catastrophic injuries require lifelong care.

After an accident, document what future needs may be necessary. It is also important to tell your doctors about past issues.

The doctors need to give opinions about new injuries and prior injuries that were possibly exacerbated. Failure to provide your doctors with accurate information may damage your credibility and undermine your doctor’s findings.

What Is A Permanent Injury In Florida?

After Lakeland, FL, car accident, you must demonstrate that your injury is permanent to receive compensation for pain and suffering, disability or physical impairment, deformity, mental anguish, inconvenience, or loss of capacity for enjoyment of life.

To be considered a permanent injury, it must include:

A significant and permanent loss of an important bodily function.

Permanent and significant scarring or disfigurement.

An injury that the evidence shows is permanent to a reasonable degree of probability.

What Is "Maximum Medical Improvement?"

Maximum medical improvement is when an injured patient’s condition cannot be further improved or when a healing plateau is reached.

It can mean the patient has fully recovered from their injury, or their condition has stabilized, and no substantial change can be expected. Maximum medical improvement does not mean the patient will not receive future care.

What Is "Palliative Care?"

Sometimes, future care is designed to help with functionality or pain levels and will not cure the condition. This kind of treatment following a car wreck is called “palliative care.” Palliative care is a multidisciplinary approach to specialized health care for people with severe conditions.

It focuses on providing patients with relief from the symptom or pain. Such therapy aims to improve the patient’s quality of life.

How Can A Lawyer Help Me After An Accident?

After getting the care you need, obtaining good advice and counsel is important for your future. Hiring the right personal injury attorneys can make a difference in your case. If you need legal assistance, contact one of our car accident specialists.

If you hire a lawyer on contingency, you will likely pay the same percentage fee whether your lawyer is a first-year lawyer with little or no experience or a board-certified specialist by the Florida Bar.

The personal injury protection (PIP) statute in Florida requires that motorists have PIP coverage in their auto insurance policy. Florida Statutes § 627.7407 states that motorists “must maintain security for personal injury protection as required by the Florida Motor Vehicle No-Fault Law.”

PIP protection can be very helpful in covering accident-related damages. Our firm will help you seek any PIP insurance benefits you are entitled to. We will also answer any questions that you have about insurance claims, lawsuits, and how our firm can assist you after a car accident in Florida.

How Does PIP Coverage Help Motor Vehicle Accident Victims in Florida?

Personal injury protection provides compensation for medical expenses and lost income after a car accident. PIP coverage may pay for:

Up to 80% of your emergency medical bills
60% of lost income, lost earning power, and loss of household services

PIP insurance coverage is complicated. It may be difficult for you to understand which benefits you deserve. Our team can review your case and seek fair benefits from your insurer.

The Emergency Medical Condition Designation Is Essential To Getting Full PIP Benefits

Accident victims are, initially, only entitled to a portion of their PIP insurance benefits. Though you must carry $10,000 in benefits by law, you do not automatically have access to all $10,000 in insurance benefits.

If your injuries receive an emergency medical condition (EMC) designation, you are typically entitled to more PIP insurance benefits. An emergency medical condition may be one that without medical assistance could:

Threaten your life
Impair bodily function
Cause serious health complications

An emergency medical condition is as it sounds: an emergency. However, in order to claim emergency medical condition status and the benefits that come with it, you will likely need a qualified medical provider to diagnose your injuries.

How Can an Accident Victim in Florida Seek PIP?

You may have two priorities when seeking PIP benefits after a motor vehicle accident in Florida:

Getting medical attention
Hiring an attorney from our firm to lead your insurance claim

You generally only have 14 days to seek medical treatment after a motor vehicle accident in Florida if you hope to receive an EMC designation. By seeking medical attention, you can:

Meet the 14-day deadline for seeking PIP benefits
Receive a specific diagnosis for all accident-related injuries
Document the severity of your injuries before they begin to heal
Establish a clear connection between your motor vehicle accident and your injuries

If you did not seek medical attention immediately after your motor vehicle accident, you could still be eligible to seek PIP benefits. Our team will review your accident details and provide personalized advice.

How an Attorney Can Help You Seek PIP Insurance Benefits

An attorney from our team can fight for any PIP benefits you are entitled to. If we determine that you may benefit from filing a lawsuit, we can handle that process for you as well.

When representing someone who deserves PIP insurance benefits, our team generally:

Documents Your Injuries

Our firm will help you seek emergency medical condition status, which means documenting your accident-related injuries. We’ll do this by:

Helping you arrange X-rays, CT scans, MRIs, and other medical images of your injuries
Getting doctors’ diagnoses of your injuries
Collecting and organizing all medical bills related to your injuries
Relying on our medical experts to testify about your injuries

We will make the case for medical providers to grant you EMC status.

Calculates a Precise Cost of Damages

Our legal team will determine exactly how much money you deserve for your accident-related losses. By establishing an exact amount of compensation, we will know whether your insurance benefits will cover your losses.

Negotiates With Insurance Companies

Insurance companies employ experienced negotiators. Those negotiators generally want to avoid paying accident victims like you the money you deserve. Your lawyer from our firm will insist that liable insurers pay the benefits you deserve, including any PIP benefits you are entitled to receive.

Handles the Daily Responsibilities of Your Case

Insurance claims and lawsuits require paperwork, due diligence, communications, and other responsibilities. Our team will handle every aspect of your claim or lawsuit. You can focus on your recovery while we fight for your compensation.

Our Firm’s Fee Structure Benefits Our PIP Clients in Florida

Our team wants our clients to feel no pressure when they hire us. Our fee structure is client-friendly, as we:

Receive no upfront or out-of-pocket compensation
Don’t receive any hourly rate or flat fee
Only receive our fee if we get compensation for you

This contingency fee structure ensures that our firm bears the entire cost of your case. When we win for you, we get a portion of the recovery.

Call Dismuke Law for Your Free Consultation Today

The PIP statute in Florida can be confusing, and our firm will answer any questions you have. We can also handle your claim and fight for all of the benefits you deserve.

Call Dismuke Law today for your free consultation.

Take The Next Step

We Care About Your Recovery

Seriously injured? Have no coverage? We want to talk to you and we can help. We have two convenient office locations in Lakeland and Tampa and can even come to you if you are unable to travel due to your injuries. When you’ve been hurt in Florida, 1-800-ASK-DAVE is the only number you have to remember.

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