If you are in an auto accident, you will most likely suffer injuries. Even a minor crash can lead to injuries such as whiplash, which will take some time to heal. Often, physical therapy is an effective treatment form for a physical injury.
There are many injuries that can be effectively treated with physical therapy.
Physical therapy can help reduce the pain while also helping improve the range of motion. Physical therapy is often a cost-effective approach at addressing injuries by reducing the need for surgery and invasive treatments and by helping reduce the need for prescription painkillers, which can be addictive.
If your injury necessitated surgery, physical therapy can help with the recovery process and ensure you make the fullest possible recovery with a better range of motion, less pain and a better overall healing of your injury.
When you work with a physical therapist, specific areas can be targeted to address any weaknesses. This can include areas where you have had fractures or where there has been a muscle, tendon, or ligament injury.
Physical therapy can help relieve pain and relieve stress, which will improve your functioning, mobility, and overall quality of life. Physical therapists have undergone extensive training, so they are familiar with the different injuries, different surgical procedures, and your treatment goals so they can customize a treatment plan to address your specific needs and expectations.
When filing a personal injury claim, medical expenses are almost always included in filed claims. It makes sense that if someone is injured in a car accident, treatment to fix that injury would be covered under an insurance claim.
However, the question arises as to what type of treatment is allowed. For instance, are physical therapy expenses allowed to be claimed?
We have asked attorney Alaina Sullivan about what you should do. Here is what she had to say:
The Cost of Physical Therapy
Your physical therapy cost can be added into the medical expenses so you can recover those fees through the personal injury claim that you file. Depending on the injury, the length of the session, the physical therapy facility, and your location, the cost can range anywhere from $20 per session to as much as $350 per session.
When an individual has medical insurance coverage, the copay usually ranges from $30 to $50 per visit. Without insurance, the average cost is $125 per session.
Your physician will order physical therapy based on the severity of your injury and the specific treatment goals. Physical therapy fees cover the initial assessment, use of any specialized equipment, and the treatment is created to address the specific injury you have suffered.
The length or duration of treatment and the number of sessions that you need are dependent on your injury and the number of sessions you must go for treatment will affect the overall cost of your medical care.
Depending on the injury, physical therapists usually set patients up for visits two or three times per week. Often, the treatment lasts anywhere from 4 to 8 weeks, but can extend into longer periods if needed.
Some health insurance companies have limits on the number of physical therapy sessions they will cover each year for a patient. Often, they will cover no more than 10 to 50 visits. You will need to check with your insurance to determine if your coverage has a limit.
However, if your injuries were the result of an accident caused by someone else’s negligence, you can hold them responsible for the cost of your treatment – regardless of the number of sessions – and you can add that into your damages when you file your personal injury claim.
If your physical therapy costs $125 per session, and your treatment plan involves 18 sessions, which is spread out over three visits per week for 6 weeks, the total cost of physical therapy will be $2,250.
Of course, you will have other medical expenses, including physician visits and tests such as x-rays and scans added onto the cost of your medical care. Maintain thorough records for all your medical treatment and costs.
You want to make sure your totals are accurate when you request compensation for your damages. Your accident injury attorney will help you determine the totals and calculate the value of your personal injury claim after an accident.
Medical Treatment Covered
When it comes to physical injuries resulting from a car accident, most medical treatment as a result of these injuries are covered. However, the question arises when different types of treatments are used for injuries.
Medical services vary depending on the type of injury, as well as the preference of the injured party receiving treatment.
That brings the question of what is covered? How do you know?
Receiving a Diagnosis
The first step for being treated for a personal injury is receiving a diagnosis from medical personnel. You need to be seen by a doctor who can assess the extent of your injuries and give an official diagnosis before being referred to treatment. Medical treatment can be as simple as being prescribed pain medication or as complicated as surgical treatment.
The diagnosis part of the medical bill is normally quick and small in comparison to treatment. However, sometimes the diagnosis can take longer, requiring multiple tests and examinations. It depends on the patient, as well as the extent of injuries.
Limitations on What is Allowed
Because medical expenses can vary, many claims adjusters will try to limit what is allowed in terms of a personal injury claim That first visit may be covered but the claims adjusters may try to argue that the multiple visits for follow-up or the tests that are later ordered by the doctor for purposes of diagnosis are not necessary.
If you are sent to a specialist or physical therapy for your injuries, you may receive push back, as well, depending on the size of the claim. In some cases, the claims adjuster may call you regarding your case, looking for inconsistencies in your story that could allow them to deny coverage.
Physical Therapy
Physical therapy is quite common in personal injury claims, but for some reason, it is put at the bottom of the priority list when it comes to medical treatment.
However, if your injury includes soft tissue injuries, otherwise known as whiplash, it is almost always required to get through the pain.
Why do insurance companies take such a negative view of physical therapy? The reason for the skepticism is often the cost and the length of time the treatment can take. Sometimes insurance adjusters will include physical therapy expenses with other medical costs if your doctor has prescribed only a few weeks of basic physical therapy. In some cases, the insurance company may want an independent medical examination of your injuries to verify your injuries.
However, many times, months of therapy is needed, and the costs can add up quickly. The key to successful physical therapy treatment is to do it consistently and frequently.
It is not uncommon to see a physical therapist up to three times a week for a couple months at a time.
An insurance adjuster may also try to discount the money received for physical therapy if the therapy takes place outside of the doctor’s office and the doctor’s supervision.
What Do I Need to Do to Make Sure It Is Covered?
The first step to making sure you are covered for physical therapy costs is to get a diagnosis and written referral from your primary care physician. You need documentation showing what injuries you sustained in the car accident and the recommended treatment.
Make sure the referral comes from the doctor’s office, and it often helps if you could check to see what your health insurance will cover in terms of expenses.
Anything you pay out-of-pocket you could see reimbursement for after payment.
Once you are prescribed physical therapy, start it as soon as possible and make sure you go to all of your scheduled appointments. As the victim in a car accident, you have a legal obligation to do what is known as “mitigating your damages,” which means to do everything needed to make sure your condition improves and does not worsen.
If you hold off on going to physical therapy, the insurance company may view that as you not needing the therapy. Follow the treatment prescribed by the therapy, including at-home exercises, as well.
Not following medical instructions signals that you do not need to go to the therapy and will give the defendant or their insurance company evidence to show that they should not have to pay for the treatment.
Contact an Attorney Today
If you have suffered injuries in an accident that require physical therapy and other medical treatment, you should enlist the help of a personal injury lawyer. With the help of an attorney, you are much more likely to have a personal injury claim and recover compensation for the damages that you suffered.
Medical expenses will be included in your damages. You will need to include all medical costs, including your physician visits, hospital bills, labs and x-rays, physical therapy, prescription, medical devices, and so forth.
When you file a personal injury claim, you will need to provide detailed medical records that support your claim and that show the extent of your injuries and the outlook for your recovery.
Among these records should be your physical therapy records that will include the notes of the physical therapist who helped you throughout the recovery process. The more detailed records you have, the more accurately the value of your claim can be assessed.
To have a successful personal injury claim, your attorney will need to show that the accident was caused by the negligence of another party. All four elements of negligence must be proven, and all four elements of negligence must be proven.
If you are injured and you believe someone else is to blame, you have a limited time to pursue a personal injury claim. If you wait until the statute of limitations has passed, you cannot recover compensation for your damages.
Make sure your claim is filed in a timely manner. Complete the free case evaluation form so an accident injury lawyer in your state can review the details of your case and get your claim underway.
With the help of an accident injury lawyer, you are much more likely to recover compensation for the damages you suffered. A personal injury lawyer will not require payment up front. Instead, personal injury attorneys work on a contingency basis, which means that your lawyer will not be paid until your case is won and you recover compensation for your damages via a judgment or a settlement.
