A car accident is a complication no one wants in their life. But if you do get tangled up with another car on the road, you need to be prepared to deal with insurance. It can get confusing, figuring out who is supposed to pay for what. No matter who was at fault in the accident, there are steps people like you in Florida have to go through to get the payments they’re entitled to.

At Doc Tony Clinics, we’ve helped many patients navigate insurance to get the chiropractic treatments they need after an accident, so we understand how the process works. Here’s what you need to know if you’ve been in a car accident in Florida.

Florida’s PIP and the 14-Day Rule

According to Florida insurance laws, they are a “no-fault” state. This means that no matter who caused the accident, each driver turns to their own insurance company first to help them pay the bills from the accident.

To ensure that each driver has coverage, they’re required to carry $10,000 of personal injury protection coverage, also known as PIP. This is intended to cover your own medical bills and property damage.

You’re required to file a PIP claim before you seek any other damages.

That is one of many requirements when it comes to PIP coverage. You also have to seek medical treatment within 14 days of the accident, or you can be denied coverage under PIP.

This can be a problem if injuries aren’t apparent right away. If you have back pain that isn’t noticeable in the first two weeks, you risk not having treatment for that pain covered because you didn’t seek care in time. If you’re in Jacksonville, Florida, it’s always a good idea to schedule an appointment after an accident right away just to protect yourself from unexpected bills.

What’s Covered After a Car Accident?

The point of car insurance is to cover expenses incurred after a car accident. These include repairing or replacing your car, lost wages, medical bills, and chiropractic appointments as needed. PIP is required to cover up to 80% of your medical expenses and 60% of your lost wages up to $10,000.

However, PIP doesn’t always cover all the expenses you may have. Who is responsible for the rest of a chiropractor’s bill after a car accident if PIP isn’t enough?

Payment After the PIP

As mentioned before, the first step in getting your expenses covered after a car accident is filing a PIP claim. But if that coverage doesn’t fully meet your bills, you still have options.

The next step is to file a personal injury lawsuit against the other driver’s insurance company. Unfortunately, not all drivers carry the insurance they’re supposed to.

Suppose the other driver doesn’t have insurance, or they don’t have enough insurance to cover your costs.

In that case, you may need to pursue payment through your own insurance company, especially if you carry uninsured motorist coverage.

Once you have gone through these steps, any remaining bills are your responsibility. Any unpaid costs will have to come out of your pocket.

Get the Chiropractic Care You Deserve After a Car Accident

If you’ve been in a car accident, paying the bills is probably only one of your concerns. To help you heal from any physical injuries you may have suffered, we urge you to see us at Doc Tony Clinics.

Our caring experts will give you the chiropractic treatment you deserve to recover and feel strong again as well as answer any questions after an accident, whether it’s about treatment or billing.

For more information about how we can help or to schedule an appointment, please contact us today! A car accident shouldn’t define your life. Let us help you get back to feeling your best.

Image Source: Southworks/Shutterstock