Engaging in Post-Accident Physical Therapy
Those who are involved in car crashes and other accidents may engage in a number of different strategies to help assist with the recovery process and ease their pain. Many accident victims, for instance, must undergo surgery and take specific medications. Some injured parties, however, also attend physical therapy in an effort to return to their former state of health. This type of continuing treatment involves regular appointments with a practitioner, who is specially trained to help safely return someone’s body to its pre-accident physical state.
Physical therapy often proves to be expensive, which can leave many accident victims unable to continue with their treatment. Fortunately, these costs are typically recoverable under PIP insurance and other policies, so if you have questions about how to submit a claim for post-accident physical therapy, or your claim has been unfairly denied, you should speak with an experienced Florida car accident lawyer who can help advise you.
Physical Therapy and the Recovery Process
Physical therapy is a type of therapy that focuses on the preservation, restoration, or enhancement of physical function that has been impaired by injury, disability, or disease. It primarily utilizes therapeutic exercise, assistive devices, and physical modalities like massage. Physical therapists can also provide services for orthopedic and cardiovascular rehabilitation, as well as post-operative care.
The Benefits of Physical Therapy
There are a variety of reasons to attend physical therapy after being involved in a car crash. Most injuries sustained in these types of accidents, for instance, involve stiffness, reduced range of motion, a loss of mobility, and pain. Physical therapy specifically helps to address these symptoms, as it focuses primarily on improving flexibility, reducing pain, increasing strength, and shortening recovery times. For instance, physical therapy can help injured parties regain strength in the affected area, thereby decreasing the possibility for re-injury. Physical therapy can also help prevent long-term damage, like chronic pain by increasing blood flow and oxygen.
Recovering Compensation for Physical Therapy
When seeking compensation from an at-fault driver, car accident victims are required to provide proof of the nature and severity of their injuries. This in turn, will require the submission of medical records to reveal what kinds of treatments were sought after a collision, as well as how much they cost. Fortunately, physical therapists take extensive notes, recording details about a patient’s physical limitations, his or her improvement and progress, a plan for future treatment, and a list of any pain medications prescribed to the patient, all of which can be used to bolster a person’s recovery efforts. For help collecting the evidence that will support your own car accident claim, please reach out to our office today.
Connect with an Experienced Car Accident Lawyer
If you were injured in a car accident and required to attend physical therapy as a part of your treatment, please call Boone & Davis at 954-566-9919 to speak with one of our dedicated Fort Lauderdale auto accident lawyers about your options for recovering related compensation.
Resource:
eg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0700-0799/0768/Sections/0768.81.html
