There is no requirement, in Florida, that you need a police report in order to see a doctor following a car accident. It is possible that a doctor office would want to see the police report first or to get your automobile insurance PIP (personal injury protection) claim number, before setting up an appointment. In a case where you are making a claim against the other driver who is at fault, in addition to proving liability or fault, you also must prove damages (medical bills, pain and suffering, etc.) and causation (that the accident caused the injury). In terms of causation, it must be shown that the damages claimed were caused from the accident and therefore it is NOT a good idea to delay getting to a doctor. Many clients tell me that they waited for the full police report before going to the doctor but sometimes it takes 5 or more business days for the full police report to be ready and then the client suffers in pain while waiting for the police report and also make their injury case more difficult, as it begs the question of why they waited a week to go to their physician. Thus, if you have been in an accident, are injured and want to see a physician, it is NOT required that you obtain the police report before seeing a doctor.
If you have been in an accident, please call Drucker Law Offices at 561-483-9199 or 954-755-2120 or 305-981-1561 – Principal office in Boca Raton plus satellite offices in Miami, Coral Springs, Boynton Beach, Lake Worth, and West Palm Beach.
It is important to note that every case is unique and should be judged based on the specific facts of the case. The advice in this blog is intended to be general in nature and should not to be construed as specific advice for a case, as a minor difference in the facts of the case could change the result. Also, this blog is, as the web site suggests, based on Florida law and the laws of any other states or even another country could vary from Florida.
