I have been a chiropractor for 20 years and have been in private practice in Joppa, Maryland for over 16 years.
One of the things that I see on a consistent basis is patients that have been injured in an automobile accident. Another thing I see repetitively is confusion and misinformation regarding treatment and insurance coverage following an auto accident.
As a popular insurance company logo says “we know a thing or two because we have seen a thing or two”.
I too, know a thing or two because I have seen a thing or two. Let’s start with some of the basic misconceptions:
“It was a minor collision. I can’t be injured”
“I was at fault so I have no right to be treated for my injuries using PIP coverage”
“It wasn’t my fault so why do we have to bill my auto insurance?”
All three questions/concerns are valid but easily explained.
- There are many reputable studies that conclude there is no correlation between vehicle damage and injury to occupants. Permanent injuries are possible at speeds less than 9mph.
- Personal Injury Protection insurance is for anyone injured during a collision regardless of fault.
- Most insured drivers have a Personal Injury Protection clause. Personal Injury Protection or “PIP” is specifically for treatment of injuries sustained in an automobile accident regardless of who was at fault.
If you are injured in an auto accident your primary health insurance will not pay for your care until you exhaust your PIP coverage.
When you use your PIP, you won’t be penalized by your insurance company but rather this is a benefit within your policy for an auto accident injury.
Some people elect to waive their PIP coverage. This saves the insured very little on their policy, usually less than $100 a year, however if waived, you will have no coverage.
In Maryland you cannot waive PIP for occupants under the age of 18.
If you are injured in an automobile accident you should be evaluated by someone who understands the finer details of this type of injury.
Emergency Rooms and urgent clinics are concerned about fractures and life- threatening injuries. Many, many times I get imaging reports from hospitals that say “normal x-ray study”. To an ER physician “normal x-ray study” means no life threatening trauma or fracture.
Very often positional changes in the spine are missed at the ER. These are real injuries that can have long lasting and even lifetime effects.
Do yourself and your loved ones a favor and get evaluated by someone who specializes in this type of injury. I have taken extensive continuing education in auto accident care and have attended the Personal Injury Institute.
Call us for a no obligation consultation. 410-679-8258
