Are You Wondering, How Do I Get My Physical Therapy Covered After My Car Accident?
Car accidents regularly cause the people involved in the crash to suffer a range of injuries. The people who are fortunate enough to have only suffered from soft-tissue injuries such as a muscle spasm or strain often find themselves prescribed a course of physical therapy for a period of two to three months. Following their treatment, these same people, fearful of medical debt and not sure how to deal with a car insurance adjuster, seek out legal services in the area of personal injury law. This article intends to cover some of what our attorneys consider when crafting a strategy to get the auto insurance companies to reimburse our clients for their physical therapy medical bills.
How Do Physical Therapists Help People Hurt in Car Accidents?
As stated by the American Physical Therapy Association, “physical therapists are movement experts who improve quality of life through prescribed exercise, hands-on care, and patient education. Physical therapists examine each person and then develop a treatment plan to improve their ability to move, reduce or manage pain, restore function, and prevent disability.”
After a car accident, individuals often suffer sprains and strains that physical therapists can relieve with treatment. A physical therapist will usually set a course of care that will occur one to two times per week. Their care will continue for weeks or months, until the patient is fully recovered. Some of the common treatments provided include myofascial release, heat or ice, and specialized stretch or strength-building exercises designed to restore movement to the affected muscle groups.
Once a physical therapist has helped the patient achieve maximum recovery, the patient is usually discharged home with instructions to continue on a home exercise plan and use heat or ice as needed.
What Physical Therapy Am I Entitled to Have Covered by the Car Insurance Company?
Under California personal injury law, a person that is hurt after a car accident caused by someone else is entitled to be reimbursed for the reasonable value of all medical bills for necessary treatment prescribed by a health care provider. Howell v. Hamilton Meats & Provisions, Inc. (2011) 52 Cal.4th 541.
Our attorneys provide the car insurance adjuster with all of the medical records demonstrating the necessity of our clients’ physical therapy to get medical care reimbursed. If it appears that our client will need additional future care, we demand that the car insurance company provide our client with enough money to cover the cost of their future care.
Will the Car Insurance Company Try to Deny Payment for my Physical Therapy Bills?
The single most common dispute people not familiar with this area of law find themselves engaged in revolves around the length or necessity of prolonged physical therapy.
Depending on how serious a crash is, a person might find themselves with minor soreness or stiffness. When the pain experienced by an injured person is minimal, the length of time they need to recover is often very short. However, when a person is involved in a severe car accident, physical therapy can often go on for months and still not provide significant pain relief.
Our attorneys fight to ensure that clients get reimbursed for all of their physical therapy, and we never let insurance companies short change them. People who are mindful of their credit score and personal finances know how frightening it can be to be stuck with a medical bill they were not reimbursed for. That’s why it’s so important to have a thorough understanding of personal injury law before you try to settle your insurance claim on your own.
Most car accident lawyers and personal injury attorneys offer a free consultation. We encourage you to seek out an attorney to discuss your claims over a free consultation. Don’t waste time worrying about how you will pay your physical therapy bills after a car accident. Talk to a personal injury lawyer now.
If You Have Been Wrongfully Injured, Contact a Local Personal Injury Lawyer Right Away!
If you have been injured due to a car accident, call a California car accident lawyer or personal injury attorney right away. Make sure that you gather the contact information from as many witnesses as you can find.
No one article can cover everything that people should know after a personal injury. Additionally, personal injury law presents unique legal challenges.
We recommend contacting a personal injury lawyer before speaking to an insurance adjuster or filing a claim. Filing an insurance claim for personal injuries without consulting an attorney could result in an adjuster attempting to use your statements against you.
There are many local Long Beach, Seal Beach, and Huntington Beach personal injury lawyers and car accident attorneys. Lawyers who regularly practice in this field of law should be able to help and will likely offer you a free consultation.
Don’t let an insurance company lowball your demand for reimbursement of medical expenses, lost wages, or pain and suffering. Ensure that you receive full justice for your insurance claims!
The information contained in this post is for general information purposes only. Nothing on this post, or website, should be taken as legal advice for any individual or case situation. This information is not intended to create, and receipt or viewing does not constitute an attorney-client relationship.
Contact us If you have lost a loved one or have pain and suffering from a personal injury. For more information, visit our car accidents page and slip and fall accidents page. For a free consultation, please reach out to our attorneys to arrange a time to discuss your case.
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