Please accept this blog entry as this week’s topic by the accident and injury lawyer from Boca Raton (Deerfield Beach, Miami, Hallandale, Fort Lauderdale, Pompano, Aventura, North Miami, Coconut Gove) at Drucker Law offices. Our phone number is 561.483.9199 or 954.755.2120 or 305.981.1561.
Generally, there is no rule that an injured person must go to the hospital or see a physician within a week or even within several months after an accident. There is generally a four year statute of limitation on bringing a negligence case in Florida (note: there may be exceptions to this and thus consulting a lawyer regarding the statute of limitations is a good idea). However, one of the elements of an injury case is causation and by waiting to treat with a doctor can make proving the causation element more difficult. In an accident, the injured person must prove that the accident caused the injury, i.e. causation. By delaying treatment, this opens the defense to argue that this injury did not cause this accident. Thus, generally, it is recommended that if you are injured after an accident to see a physician as soon as possible and also to consult an attorney so that you can be advised of what your rights are for the particular accident. Also note that by new Florida statute that takes effect on January 1, 2013, if you do not seek medical attention within 14 days of a CAR ACCIDENT CASE, then your PIP/medical coverage does not apply. This does not mean that you do not have a case to collect medical bills or pain and suffering from the person that caused the accident, but means that your PIP/medical/no-fault coverage from your car insurance is not responsible for paying any of the medical bills from such accident.
At Drucker Law Offices, the firm offers a free consultation for people that are injured as a result of someone else’s negligence. If you or a loved one have been in an accident, please call the accident and injury attorney at Drucker Law Offices, Gary J. Drucker, for a consultation at Boca Raton – 561-483-9199, Coral Springs/Broward (satellite office) 954-755-2120, Miami Dade County 305-981-1561, Boynton Beach/Delray 561-265-1976 or Lake Worth/West Palm Beach 561-686-7070.
Of course, every case is unique and has to be judged based on the specific facts of the case. The advice in this blog is intended to be general in nature and should not to be construed as specific advice for a case, as a slight difference in the facts could ultimately change the result. Also, this blog is, as the web site suggests, based on Florida law and the laws of any other states or another country could vary significantly from Florida.
