Your Guide to Physical Therapy Expenses After a Car Accident | Kisling, Nestico & Redick
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Car accidents frequently require immediate medical care and costly follow-up treatment, including physical therapy.
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KNR Legal
Date posted
 
November 13, 2023
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Car accidents can derail lives in seconds, but the road to recovery is a marathon, not a sprint. The medical care journey often extends beyond the emergency room, leading many to physical therapy’s critical yet costly realm.

If you or a loved one have been injured in a car accident, you probably have a lot of questions. Here’s more about paying for physical therapy after an auto accident and some things to remember.

Who Pays for Physical Therapy After a Car Crash?

The party responsible for your car crash and the resulting damages should be held liable to fully compensate you. This includes paying you for any physical therapy costs related to your injuries.

However, proving another driver is at fault is not always straightforward. You probably need a personal injury lawyer to help you with pursuing compensation.

Physical Therapy after a Car Accident is Important

Physical therapy after a car crash could be a crucial step on your road to recovery. For many auto accident injury victims, the journey back to full health is marked by the rehab they undergo with skilled physical therapists. This therapy not only aids in healing physical injuries—such as whiplash, fractures, or soft tissue damage—but also helps mitigate chronic pain and improve mobility.

Also, engaging in a prescribed physical therapy program can expedite the return to daily activities and work, which is essential for mental health and financial stability.

Essentially, physical therapy can represent a bridge to reclaiming your pre-accident quality of life, acts as a therapeutic measure to ensure the best possible physical recovery, and is a necessary step to get the documentation required when seeking maximum legal compensation for the injuries you sustained.

Compensation for Post-Accident Physical Therapy

Imagine your life has been turned upside down due to a distracted driver’s mistake. With a fractured leg and a long road to mobility ahead, you’re faced with all sorts of medical expenses. While costs are apparent, like expenses for treatment and medications, you may be surprised by the need and bill for your rehabilitation.

The Steps to Getting Compensation for Your Therapy

Navigating the aftermath of a car accident can be overwhelming, especially when faced with the prospect of ongoing physical therapy costs. From understanding liability to filing a claim within deadlines, here’s what you’ll need to do.

Step 1: Launch Your Personal Injury Claim

Your first step towards compensation is probably by filing a personal injury insurance claim. This isn’t just about current bills—it’s about securing your future. When insurance only covers a fraction, you may need to be proactive so the at-fault party’s insurance shoulders the full burden.

Step 2: Beat the Clock with Timely Filing

Time is of the essence. With Ohio’s two-year statute of limitations, it’s crucial to act swiftly. Delay reduces the chances of a successful claim and may compromise the quality of evidence.
Prompt action can be the difference in preserving vital evidence and highlighting your legitimate need for physical therapy.

Step 3: Weigh Their Offer, Then Decide

Accepting an insurance settlement offer might seem the easiest, but is it right? You should always weigh any offers an insurance adjuster makes against your long-term needs. If it’s insufficient to cover future rehabilitation costs, you likely can’t go back for more.

Step 4: Make Your Decision with Legal Support

Sometimes, the journey to fair and full compensation for your PT costs ends requires a lawsuit. This can feel like a drastic route for some, but filing a lawsuit can be a strategic move to push for a fair settlement. With an experienced lawyer, you can ensure each legal step is calculated and executed with precision.

Getting Physical Therapy Covered, Required Proof

To get compensation for physical therapy after a car accident, you must prove several key elements crucial to establishing your entitlement to damages. Here’s what you need to demonstrate:

The Liability of the Other Party

You must establish that another party was at fault for the accident. This involves showing that their negligence or wrongful action caused the crash. Evidence such as police reports, witness statements, traffic camera footage, and accident reconstruction can support your claim.

Causation of Injuries

It’s essential to prove that the injuries for which you are seeking physical therapy were directly caused by the accident. This means the responsible party’s actions led to the crash, which resulted in your injuries. Medical records, doctor’s testimony, and documentation of your injuries right after the accident can be pivotal.

The Extent & Nature of Injuries

You must demonstrate the extent of your injuries and the necessity of physical therapy for your recovery. This typically involves medical assessments, treatment plans, and expert opinions on the nature of your injuries and the expected benefits of therapy.

The Costs of Physical Therapy

An accurate and comprehensive account of the costs associated with your physical therapy is necessary. This includes past, present, and estimated future expenses. Detailed billing statements from your healthcare providers and an expert prognosis can help establish these costs.

Car Accident Physical Therapy FAQs

  • How will I afford treatment in the interim? – Health insurance may cover portions and can potentially negotiate payment plans, ensuring your credit remains intact while you pursue full compensation.
  • Will my insurance cover physical therapy? – Maybe. Health coverage varies, but your lawyer can help you understand your policy and ensure your insurer records all costs.
  • What if I’m financially strained? Working with a law firm that won’t add to your financial worries is essential. Most reputable injury lawyers handle cases on a contingency basis and offer free consultations to gauge your case.

A Lawyer Can Help Get Physical Therapy Covered

Physical therapy helps people like you walk again, gain fuller mobility, and otherwise get back to the lives they knew before being hit by a negligent driver. At KNR, our lawyers have decades of experience serving car accident victims across Ohio, and we know how to recover the damages you are entitled to under the law. Let us help gather the required evidence and present a compelling case to the insurance companies or in court.

If you’re facing a long recovery after a car accident and a mountain of physical therapy bills, KNR is ready. Contact Kisling, Nestico & Redick for a free, no-risk case evaluation. We’ll discuss what happened, what you need, and how to get you everything you deserve.

Call 1-800-HURT-NOWor contact us for a 100% free consultation. There’s no cost unless you recover compensation.