QUESTIONS?

Free Consultation
Call 305-461-4848

Make the right choice
Selecting the right doctor to treat your accident injuries is very important for your recovery and your case. 

Choose from one of the Miami Back Institute Accident Injury Physicians at a location near you.

Miami, Coral Gables, West Miami, Miami Lakes

The Miami Back Institute - Accident Injury and Back Pain Specialists

Accident & Injury - Frequently Asked Questions

Should I see an attorney before I see a doctor?
No – It is best if you see a doctor first. It is important for your treatment and potential legal case to consult with a doctor immediately after your accident.  From the insurance company's perspective, delaying your treatment is often regarded as an indication that you were not injured and they will use this fact in denying medical claims and against you in negotiations for settlement.  

In addition, the doctor’s diagnosis and treatment recommendations are the key to providing you with information regarding your injuries and will be used by a Personal Injury attorney as the basis for any legal case.  We work with a number of excellent personal injury attorneys and can provide you with a referral if you require one.

What if there is only minor damage to my car?
It has been well established by accident researchers that there is little relationship between the amount of damage to a vehicle and the severity of your injuries. In many accident cases, injuries occur with only minor damage to the involved vehicle. It has been shown in car crash studies that injuries can occur at speeds as low as 5mph, usually below the threshold for significant damage to your vehicle.

How will I pay for my treatment?
Florida law provides up to $10,000 in benefits for the treatment of automobile accident injuries through your Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance, even if you were at fault in the accident. In the event that there is no insurance to cover your treatment, or in the event that your medical expenses are to be paid out of a legal settlement, we will work closely with your attorney to make sure that you receive the treatment that you need. 

Can a person be injured in a low-speed crash?
Absolutely. Every day, thousands of people are injured in low speed and high speed car crashes.  Crash test researchers have reported that test subjects experienced accident injuries at speeds as low as 5 mph.

Why was there a delay in the onset of my symptoms?
No one knows for certain, however, we do know that inflammation is one of the most common causes of pain after an accident and it takes up to 72 hours for the inflammatory process to reach its peak. The most common injuries in car accidents and slip and fall accidents involve injuries to the soft tissues (muscles and ligaments) around the spine and other joints.  These injuries, referred to as sprains and strains, involve the tearing of these tissues.  The tissue damage and inflammation that result produce pain and dysfunction.  It is important to be evaluated by a doctor, experienced in the treatment of accident injuries, immediately following an accident.   
 
The insurance company offered me a settlement - what should I do?
Stop!  Do not agree to or sign any settlement agreement unless you have first been examined by a doctor and have consulted with a personal injury attorney.  Settling your case before your injury is fully resolved means that your medical treatment must be paid directly by you and no future settlement can be negotiated.  

Why do I need to see another doctor if I've been to the hospital?
You need to be seen by a doctor who is experienced in the treatment and diagnosis of accident injuries.  The doctors in the hospital emergency rooms are trauma specialists and are primarily concerned with ruling out any catastrophic injuries and life threatening conditions.  Accident injuries typically involve injuries to the muscles, ligaments, joints and discs, called soft-tissue injuries. These injuries take weeks and months to heal properly and proper treatment during the healing process is critical for optimizing your recovery.  Proper treatment of these injuries typically requires a course of physical therapy under the direction of a doctor.  Pain killers, muscle relaxers and anti-inflammatories prescribed and administered in the emergency room are no substitute for an appropriate course of therapy.  At the Miami Back Institute our doctors are specifically trained to treat soft tissue injuries such as those sustained in an accident.

What is “Personal Injury Protection” (PIP) insurance?
Also called Florida No Fault Insurance, Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance covers you regardless of fault (i.e. whether or not you cause the crash) up to $10,000 or the limits of your policy. Your PIP insurance will also cover your child, members of your household, certain passengers who lack PIP insurance as long as they do not own a vehicle. People riding in your vehicle who carry PIP will receive coverage under their own PIP for their injuries, and certain licensed drivers who drive your vehicle with your permission. PIP also covers your child if he or she suffers an injury while riding on a school bus. PIP coverage protects you while in someone else’s vehicle, as a pedestrian, or bicyclist if you suffer an injury in a crash involving a motor vehicle.

The Florida Motor Vehicle No Fault Law, requires all owner/registrants of a motor vehicle with four wheels or more to carry a minimum of $10,000.00 of Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and $10,000.00 of property damage liability (PDL) if you own a motor vehicle in Florida. Florida law requires you to maintain PIP/PDL insurance continuously throughout the licensing and registration period.



Free Consultation
Schedule an appointment to see one of our back pain and accident injury doctors today.  The Miami Back Institute accident injury specialists are available 24/7 to take your calls. Our Accident Injury Doctors are standing by to answer your questions. 

We have helped many back pain and accident injury patients over the past 20 years - Let us help you.