Back pain is among the most-common complaints we hear from individuals who have been involved in car accidents. In many cases, car accident victims begin experiencing back pain right away. In others, it may take up to a few days for accident victims to begin to notice symptoms.
If you are suffering from back pain, or even chest pain, after a car accident, you are not alone. You also are not without options. You have clear legal rights under Florida law—and you could be entitled to significant financial compensation for your medical bills and other losses.
What to Do if You are Experiencing Back Pain After a Car Accident in Florida
If you have a claim for financial compensation, there are some important steps you will need to take in order to protect your legal rights. Here is what you should do if you are experiencing back pain after a car accident in Florida:
1. Get a Referral to See a Doctor
When you are involved in a car accident, you should see a doctor as soon as possible. Back pain can be symptomatic of many different types of injuries, and you will need a thorough diagnosis to ensure that you receive proper treatment.
Your choice of medical providers is extremely important, and we strongly encourage you to contact us so that we can give you a referral. We work with several specialists in the Palm Beach area, and we can help you get in with a trusted local doctor right away.
Many people feel nervous about going to the doctor—especially if they feel like they’ve waited to seek treatment or they don’t know exactly how to describe their injuries. But, your doctor won’t expect you to have all of the answers (that is your doctor’s job), and you need to make sure you do everything you can to get better. So, let us help you schedule an appointment, take notes if it makes you feel more comfortable, and feel confident knowing you are doing the right thing for yourself and your family.
2. Take Care of Your Back Injury
After you go to the doctor’s office, you need to take care of your back injury. Follow your doctor’s advice, and don’t push it. If your doctor says you should stay home from work, then stay home from work. If your doctor says you need to avoid strenuous activity, then avoid strenuous activity. Right now, your focus should be 100% on your recovery.
Recovering from a back injury after a car accident typically requires rest, physical therapy, and rehabilitation. However, in some cases, surgery or other more-invasive forms of medical treatment may be necessary. Prioritizing your recovery isn’t easy, but it is extremely important, so you should follow your doctor’s advice as closely as you can.
3. Report Your Car Accident
If you have not done so already, you should report your car accident to the Florida Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Florida law requires you to report any accident that results in bodily injury. Technically, you only have 10 days from the date of the accident to file a report in order to avoid getting a ticket. However, if you were unaware you were injured (and were not required to report the accident for other reasons), then you have a pretty good excuse. If you have any questions or concerns about reporting your accident, do not hesitate to contact us for help.
4. Hire a Lawyer to Investigate the Accident
In order to seek financial compensation for your back pain, you will need to hire a lawyer to investigate the accident. If your injury qualifies as “significant” or “permanent” under Florida’s no-fault insurance law, then you may be entitled to compensation from the at-fault party’s insurance company. However, securing this compensation will require evidence of liability.
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Evidence of liability for a car accident can take many different forms. For example, if the other driver was distracted, his or her phone records may prove your right to payment. Or, if the other driver ran a red light or stop sign, a surveillance camera or traffic camera may have captured the collision. There are several options for proving liability even if it is too late to gather evidence from the accident scene itself. As a result, even if it has been a while since the accident, an experienced lawyer may still be able to help you recover just compensation.
5. Work with Your Lawyer to Calculate Your Losses
Speaking of just compensation, the costs of living with a back injury can be far more than what most people expect. If you have a liability claim, you are entitled to compensation for all of your accident-related losses. This includes not only out-of-pocket costs such as medical bills and lost wages, but non-financial costs such as pain and suffering as well. You will need to work with an experienced lawyer to make sure you are seeking the full compensation you deserve.
6. Avoid Costly Mistakes
From rushing back to work to waiting too long to seek help, there are many costly mistakes you need to avoid. The best way to avoid these mistakes is to discuss your situation with a lawyer as soon as possible. At Brian D. Guralnick Injury Lawyers, we are more than happy to explain everything you need to know, and we will be available to you by phone, text, and email throughout your recovery process.
7. Demand More® for Your Losses
One of the biggest mistakes you need to avoid is settling your claim too soon. By settling for less than you deserve, you are essentially giving money to the insurance companies. This means less money in your pocket, and it means struggling unnecessarily due to the consequences of someone else’s mistake.
At Brian D. Guralnick Injury Lawyers, we always help our clients Demand More® for their losses. We will not let the insurance companies take advantage of you. The members of our board-certified trial team are intimately familiar with their tactics, and we will use our decades of experience to fight for the compensation you deserve.
Schedule a Free Consultation at Brian D. Guralnick Injury Lawyers
The team at Brian Guralnick Injury Lawyers Demand More® and so should you. If you have been injured in a Palm Beach County accident, I encourage you to contact me, Brian D. Guralnick, personally to discuss your legal rights. To learn how the injury team at Brian D. Guralnick Injury Lawyers can help you Demand More® for your injuries, call 561-202-6673 now or contact us online. Isn’t it time that you Demand More®?
Disclaimer:
You should not take any information in this blog as legal advice in any situation. If you need expertise for a specific issue of yours, contact a qualified Personal Injury attorney.
