If you were involved in a car accident and suffered serious injuries, you may need physical therapy to help treat your injuries. Not only can this be expensive, but it can also be time-consuming, which could result in time away from work and a potential impact on your financial well-being. If the accident was someone else’s fault, you may be able to recover compensation from them and/or their insurance company. It’s normal to wonder who pays for physical therapy after a car accident. If you need help with this, don’t hesitate to contact us.
What Happens in Physical Therapy After a Car Accident?
If you were in a car accident and suffered injuries, you may find that you need physical therapy as part of your treatment. If you go to physical therapy after the accident, they will assess you to determine if they can help you. During that assessment, they will determine what type of injury you have, with help from medical records, and develop a plan that will help you get back to a better place in terms of your physical health. Physical therapy for a car accident might have costs associated with it depending on your insurance plan. If you have questions regarding the costs of physical therapy, be sure to reach out to your insurance company.
Can Physical Therapy Help After a Car Accident?
Physical therapy can absolutely help after a car accident. In many cases, physical therapy returns people to their pre-accident physical capabilities. In some circumstances, it even allows people to avoid surgical procedures.
Some of the most common types of car accident injuries include soft tissue injuries, which can lead to muscle spasms, stiffness, and pain. Through physical therapy, you can experience a decrease in pain and improved mobility and function.
A physical therapist will also provide exercises that you can do at home to maintain your treatment even once you stop going to the office. This often includes stretching and strengthening exercises. Your physical therapist will also educate you about your injury. They will inform you of your limitations, how long they will last, and what you can do for the best chances of a full recovery.
How Long Should You Go to Physical Therapy After a Car Accident?
If you were injured and need physical therapy for a car accident, the length of time you need to go will be completely dependent on the injury and how severe it is. It’s understandable that you want to heal as quickly as possible, but it’s important to remember that it can take time.
Some injuries that are considered less severe, such as whiplash, may be treated in as little as 2 or 3 months of physical therapy. If you’re more severely injured with fractured or broken bones, you will have to participate in physical therapy for a longer period. You will need time for the fracture or break to heal, and you will also need continued physical therapy after the bones heal.
When you start physical therapy, this is a conversation that should be had with your physical therapist. After they assess your injuries and create a treatment plan, they can tell you how long they think you will need to be there and why. Keep in mind that healing doesn’t always go according to plan. You should be prepared to stay in physical therapy until you are healthy and happy with your progress.
Who Pays for Physical Therapy After a Car Accident?
If your car accident was caused by another party and it occurred due to their negligence, you should be compensated. Through a civil lawsuit, the responsible party should pay for these expenses. Depending on the outcome, the settlement might cover everything from physical therapy sessions to lost wages due to the time you have to miss work because of your appointment and injuries. If an insurance claim is available, this is a quicker and easier way to receive a payout for your physical therapy expenses. Keep in mind that most insurance companies want to pay out as little money as possible and close the case as soon as they can. You should consider speaking with an attorney even if you aren’t filing a lawsuit. You might not know that you can negotiate with insurance companies; you don’t have to take the first amount they offer.
If you do end up filing a civil claim, you certainly want to do so with a lawyer. If you are successful, you should be compensated for physical therapy expenses, lost wages, and other expenses you incurred because of the accident. This is more difficult and time-consuming than an insurance claim in most cases, but you could end up receiving significantly more compensation. Your lawyer will do a significant amount of negotiating in this case too, as most personal injury claims are settled before they get to trial.
Who Pays for Physical Therapy After a Car Accident If You Don’t Have Insurance?
If you were injured and need physical therapy after an accident, you might be concerned that you won’t be eligible to receive any reimbursement for your physical therapy, even if the accident wasn’t your fault. Driving without insurance in Los Angeles is against the law, so there will be ramifications. This doesn’t mean you won’t be able to collect any compensation, though.
California has what’s called the “no pay, no play” rule. This means that if you are uninsured and get into a car accident that someone else caused, you will only be able to recover economic damages. Economic damages include medical expenses, lost wages, lost future wages, lost earning capacity, and other expenses you incurred because of the accident.
Unfortunately, you won’t be able to recover non-economic damages. Non-economic damages refer to other types of harm you suffered that isn’t as easily quantifiable in monetary terms. Examples include pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of consortium, and diminished quality of life.
It’s never a good idea to drive without car insurance, but this fact alone won’t preclude you from recovering monetary compensation if you are hit by a negligent driver.
Contact Us Today
If you’re wondering who pays for physical therapy after a car accident, look no further; the lawyers at Gomez Trial Attorneys can answer all your questions and help you every step of the way. Contact us today to set up a free consultation.
