Hurt in a car accident and need chiropractic care? Get the compensation you deserve! Contact an experienced Florida car accident lawyer today for a no-cost, no-obligation consultation: 850-444-4878
If you suffered neck, spine, or other back injuries in a car accident due to someone else’s negligence, you’re likely wondering how to pursue a claim and who will pay for your damages.
If you are treating with a chiropractor, you might also be concerned whether insurance will reimburse you for your treatment.
Rest assured that many accident victims turn to chiropractic treatment after a car accident. In many cases, chiropractic treatment will be included in your car accident settlement.
If you have questions about your potential car accident chiropractic settlement, speak with one of our experienced Florida car accident attorneys.
Florida is a no-fault state, which means your first source of recovery is most likely going to be a claim against your personal injury protection (PIP) coverage. Your PIP will pay up to 80% of your medical bills, up to $10,000.
Your PIP coverage will usually pay for your chiropractic treatment regardless of fault.
However, your coverage extends only to reasonable expenses for necessary medical treatment. If your injuries required only two months of chiropractic treatment and you went for six months, your PIP coverage won’t automatically reimburse you.
In many cases, you can pursue a third-party claim against the at-fault driver as well. Florida law allows you to pursue a claim for damages against the other driver if you suffered some type of permanent injury or to recover your out-of-pocket expenses.
It’s very common for injured victims to see a chiropractor after a car accident.
Settlement amounts from third-party insurance companies generally include some compensation for chiropractic treatment, provided the treatment was reasonable and necessary.
Some insurance companies tend to have a bias against chiropractors and may try to undervalue your claim.
Adjusters may claim that the chiropractor kept treating you past when you should have healed. Your claim also becomes more complicated if you were already seeking routine chiropractic care before the accident.
When you pursue a claim involving chiropractic care, it’s even more important to have a skilled Florida car accident attorney representing you. Your attorney will ensure you have all the necessary records and evidence you need to prove your case.
If the insurance company is still arguing about whether your treatment was reasonable and necessary, we may need to retain industry experts who can review your records and give their opinion.
If the insurance adjuster is arguing that the accident wasn’t that severe, we can hire an accident reconstructionist who can prepare a detailed report on the accident mechanics that could support your version of the events.
If you are pursuing reimbursement through your PIP coverage, be mindful of deadlines. If you don’t see a doctor or chiropractor within 14 days following the accident, your insurance company will most likely deny all your treatment, including doctors, chiropractors, physical therapists, etc.
It’s not uncommon for some insurance companies to deny payment for chiropractic treatment. Before you become too alarmed, it’s essential to understand the reasons for the denial. In some cases, you may be able to fix things and get your chiropractic treatment reimbursed.
One of the top reasons that chiropractic treatment is denied is because there are mistakes in the billing. Chiropractors are human, and they make mistakes. Sometimes, those mistakes involve an incorrect code or billing modifier. If a chiropractor doesn’t input the right bundled code and bills separately for each modality, the insurance company may flag it.
In other cases, some insurance companies will look to deny your chiropractic treatment if there are gaps in your treatment or you waited too long to start treating. If you had any pre-existing conditions, the adjuster may claim you would’ve had treatment anyway for your problems that pre-date the accident. They may say the treatment you sought was excessive or the chiropractor overbilled.
Presenting the strongest case possible is crucial, which is why you should immediately seek medical treatment after an accident—even when you don’t think you are that badly injured. You may have internal injuries that are not immediately visible. Getting a check-up shows you are taking the accident seriously and ruling out any further injuries.
If you need assistance pursuing compensation for your chiropractic treatment after an accident, let our skilled legal team help. Our Florida car accident lawyers have decades of experience helping injured clients just like you.
We will fight for your rights and help you seek the compensation you are owed. Contact Emmanuel Sheppard & Condon today to schedule an initial consultation.