While every case is different, physical therapy can help increase settlement amounts in some cases. For example, the courts and insurance companies may not take your word for how bad your pain is after an accident.
Will Physical Therapy Increase My Settlement?
If you need physical therapy after an accident, your claim’s value will likely be higher than it would otherwise. In addition to physical therapy, you could be entitled to recover compensation for your medical treatment, lost income, emotional trauma, and more.
If you suffered serious injuries in a Florida car accident, you face a long and painful road to recovery. Getting the best possible medical treatment and care can help you achieve a full recovery. If you don’t get the care you need, however, you could find yourself with chronic pain and even long-term disability.
For many injury accident victims, physical therapy can have a significant effect on their recovery. Unfortunately, insurance companies don’t like to pay the high cost of therapeutic and rehabilitation services.
An Effective Car Accident Injury Lawyer is Your Best Asset
When it comes to maximizing accident settlement amounts, an experienced personal injury team with a proven track record is your best asset. The Florida car accident lawyers of Abrahamson & Uiterwyk fight to get our wrongfully injured clients the justice and financial compensation they deserve. We offer a free consultation for injury accident victims to help provide you with the information you need regarding the potential value of your car accident physical therapy settlement.
How Much Is the Average Car Accident Physical Therapy Settlement?
Every injury accident victim’s injuries and experiences are unique. For this reason, it is difficult to accurately estimate any average car accident settlement—with physical therapy or without. According to the settlement examples listed on this page, the typical Florida physical therapy settlements is anywhere from $110,000 to $300,000. Settlements depend greatly on the unique circumstances of each case, so the amount for physical therapy car accident settlements in Florida varies greatly. Settlements typically include compensation for all the victim’s economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages include medical treatment, testing, physical therapy, prescription medications, and related services. These damages are easy to document and establish a value for. It is typically safe to conclude that any claim involving physical therapy will have a higher value than one that does not include those services. Noneconomic damages for things like pain and suffering may also be higher where extensive physical therapy is involved.
Do you want to know to determine what the potential value of your claim might be? Talk to an experienced Florida car accident attorney.
Physical Therapy Settlement Amounts
$300,000/Car Accident/Rotator Cuff With Surgery/Head Laceration
Our client was walking his dog in Pinellas County, when he approached a crosswalk to walk toward the beach. Our client pressed the button to activate the rapid flashing beacons, to warn approaching vehicles. When the beacons activated, our client entered the crosswalk and began to walk across the street. Unfortunately, the defendant driver, who was clearly distracted, failed to see the flashing beacons and the pedestrian crossing sign, and struck our client going approximately 30 miles per hour.
As a result of the impact, our client rolled up on the hood of the defendant’s vehicle and was jettisoned into the other lane of traffic. Fortunately, the vehicles in the other lane had properly stopped. Our client was knocked unconscious and did not regain consciousness until he was seen in the emergency room.
At the emergency room, our client received emergent care to treat his dislocated left shoulder, broken left collarbone, fractured ribs, multiple lacerations and a concussion. Following his discharge from the hospital, our client was referred to an orthopedic surgeon who diagnosed our client with a left shoulder rotator cuff tear. The orthopedic surgeon prescribed our client with a regiment of physical therapy, aimed at restoring the range of motion in the left shoulder. Due to his dedication to the therapy, our client was able to regain full use of his left shoulder without the need for surgery.
After the conclusion of the medical treatment, we sent a demand for settlement to the defendant’s insurance company and to our client’s underinsured motorist insurance carrier. The plaintiff’s insurance refused to give our client a fair settlement offer, but through continuous negotiations were able to convince them to pay significantly more. In the end, we were able to obtain a combined $300,000 settlement for our client.
$135,000/Car Accident/Mesenteric Hematoma/Liver Laceration and Bleed/Cellulitis
Our client was traveling north on a rural two-lane road in Pasco county. As our client approached a vehicle heading south, that vehicle unexpectedly drifted into our client’s lane. Unable to avoid the other vehicle, our client was forced into a head-on collision when both vehicles were traveling at an estimated speed of 45 miles per hour. The resulting head-on impact was devastating and both vehicles were totaled.
As a result of the crash, our client suffered extensive internal injuries. He was rushed to the nearest hospital where he received emergent care and was subsequently admitted to the hospital. After spending 3 days in the hospital for treatment and observation he was discharged.
After his discharge from the hospital, our client came under the care of an orthopedic. The orthopedic prescribed our client a regiment of physical therapy, which aided our client in making a good recovery from his injuries.
The defendant vehicle did not possess bodily injury coverage, so a claim was made to the insurance company that provided our client with uninsured motorist coverage. After our attorneys engaged in aggressive negotiations with the insurance company (and threatening litigation), we were able to obtain a $135,000 settlement for our client. This amount compensated our client for their medical bills, injuries, and pain and suffering.
$110,000/Car Accident/Sciatica With Radiofrequency Ablations
Our client was stopped at a red light in Pinellas County when she was rear ended at a moderate rate of speed by the defendant. After the accident, our client had an evaluation with an orthopedic surgeon and was diagnosed with segmental and somatic dysfunction of the cervical, thoracic and lumbar region. She was referred to a chiropractor where she began a routine of physical therapy.
When conservative care failed to resolve her pain complaints, the client underwent a thoracic and lumbar MRI. The MRI scans were reviewed by a neurosurgeon, who ultimately diagnosed our client with a thoracic herniation and lumbago-sciatica caused by disc displacement in the lumbar spine.
Due to unresolved sciatica complaints, our client underwent medial branch block injections in her lower back. When these injections did not significantly reduce the sciatica pain, our client had radiofrequency ablations performed in her lower back as well.
After the radiofrequency ablations were concluded, a demand for the respective policy limits were sent to the defendant’s insurance company and to our client’s insurance company. Our attorneys convinced both insurance companies to pay their entire policy limits. Accordingly, we were pleased that our clients received the maximum insurance proceeds for their injuries.
How Much Does Physical Therapy After a Car Accident Cost?
The cost of physical therapy can vary significantly, depending on the nature of your injuries and other factors. Physical therapists are highly trained professionals with valuable skill sets. Although the cost of working with a physical therapist might be less than that of a medical doctor or surgeon, you typically spend more time in physical therapy, making the overall cost increase significantly.
Overall physical therapy costs typically include an in-depth assessment of your condition and the development of a comprehensive treatment plan. Once you begin physical therapy sessions, you will be paying for the therapist’s services as well as for the use of whatever equipment your treatment involves.
Depending on the provider, physical therapy can cost as much as $100 per session or more. Initially, you might need three or more sessions per week, and depending on your injuries and progress, you might need to keep going for weeks, months, or even longer. As you can see, these costs can easily and quickly add up.
Who Pays for Physical Therapy After a Car Accident?
After a car accident, how your medical treatment gets paid for depends on your circumstances. If you have health insurance—even Medicare—you can generally get the treatment you need. However, if someone else was at fault for the accident, your insurance company will demand repayment for those costs. You could find yourself on the hook for the bills.
Ultimately, if your injuries are significant enough, the at-fault party’s insurance should be responsible for covering all your physical, emotional, and financial damages—including any type of treatment you need to restore your health and well-being. Getting the insurance company to fulfill these obligations might pose a significant challenge. An experienced attorney can help you get the compensation you need and the justice you deserve.
Do You Have to Go to Physical Therapy After a Car Accident?
Whether you need physical therapy depends on the nature of your injuries and how they affect your life. In many cases, therapy can help speed up the healing process while restoring your comfort and functionality. In some cases, you might not regain functionality without physical rehab or physical therapy, or you might require surgery or other invasive treatment that would not otherwise be required if you went to therapy.
Some of the most common types of injuries that require physical therapy include the following:
- Neck injuries
- Back injuries
- Shoulder injuries
- Knee and ankle injuries
- Elbow and wrist injuries
Although these are some of the most common motor vehicle crash injuries that could require physical therapy, your doctor could recommend physical therapy for a variety of other issues. For example, any injury that affects your strength, mobility, or range of motion could benefit from physical therapy. You might also benefit from physical therapy if you have pain or if you struggle to perform job tasks or activities of daily living.
The bottom line is that if a qualified medical treatment provider indicates that you need physical therapy, you should follow those recommendations to the letter.
Here’s How to Increase Your Odds of Getting Physical Therapy in a Car Accident Settlement
Insurance companies always seek to pay as little as possible. The fewer claims they must pay, the higher the return they can provide to shareholders and company owners. If the insurance company can avoid paying for your physical therapy, they could potentially save tens of thousands of dollars. It’s safe to say you will have a fight on your hands to get compensation for these services.
Having an experienced attorney on your side can help ensure your settlement covers your physical therapy services. At Abrahamson & Uiterwyk, our car accident attorneys understand how to build a well-documented and persuasive case. We demand compensation for the full extent of your damages. We use specialists and experts to clearly demonstrate your current and future needs for medical treatment and therapeutic services.
This is only one area where our compassionate and experienced attorneys can make a difference in your case outcome. Talk to us today to learn how our services can benefit you as you fight to get back on your feet after a car accident that wasn’t your fault.
Will Physical Therapy Increase Your Settlement? Talk to a Florida Car Accident Attorney Today for Answers
At Abrahamson & Uiterwyk, our experienced Florida personal injury lawyers know how to get you the justice and compensation you deserve. With decades of experience and a strong track record of success, we put our extensive network of resources to work for you.
You don’t have to fight this battle alone.
Contact us now to take advantage of our free consultation and case review. Our knowledgeable attorneys will fight to help you get the best possible settlement, so you can get the treatment and physical therapy you need.