One of the most common questions we hear from clients is:
“I was just in a car wreck, and my lifelong primary care doctor said they won’t see me—what do I do?”
Unfortunately, this scenario is all too familiar in Florida. Many primary care physicians—or more accurately, the practices or corporations that employ them—have adopted policies refusing to treat patients for injuries related to car accidents. And that’s a shame.
Why Won’t My Doctor See Me After a Wreck?
There are a few common reasons doctors decline to treat car accident injuries:
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Insurance Billing Issues: Many practices are set up to bill only health insurance and are either unwilling or unable to bill car insurance or Personal Injury Protection (PIP) benefits.
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Avoiding Legal Involvement: Some doctors or medical groups don’t want to get involved in potential litigation, even if the case never goes to court.
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Corporate Policies: In many cases, it’s not the doctor making the call, but the larger healthcare organization setting blanket rules.
From our perspective, this is both unfortunate and unprofessional. Who better to treat you after an injury than the physician who knows your full medical history? Your primary care doctor understands your baseline health and has likely treated you for years. They’re in the best position to assess how the car accident has impacted you.
A Misunderstood Billing Reality
Many practices refuse to accept car insurance payments even though PIP insurance in Florida typically reimburses 80% of medical bills, compared to only 10-15% from standard health insurance. So the logic here doesn’t add up financially either.
Also worth noting: primary care physicians are not typically called to testify in court. They’re general practitioners—not specialists—so the legal exposure they seem to fear is minimal. The most they’d usually be asked to do is respond to a records request, which they’re obligated to do anyway.
So What Should You Do?
Here’s our advice:
Talk to Your Doctor: If you have a good relationship with your primary care physician, ask them directly if they’ll treat you following a car wreck. If they say no, push for an explanation. Sometimes it’s a policy they haven’t questioned—or one that can be worked around.
Ask Us for Help: If your primary doctor refuses to see you, don’t worry—we have an extensive network of specialists who regularly treat car accident victims. These professionals are experienced in orthopedic and spinal injuries, and they understand the treatment protocols and documentation necessary for your recovery and legal claim.
We’ll Make Sure You’re Taken Care Of
At Zarzaur Law, our job isn’t just to fight for your rights in the legal system—it’s to help ensure you get the proper diagnosis, care, and treatment from day one. Once you’re on the path to healing, we focus on putting a value on your injury and making sure you get the compensation you deserve.
If you have any questions about medical treatment after a car accident, we’re here to help.
Visit us at zarzaurlaw.com or call us at 855-HIRE-JOE.