Will My Physical Therapy Costs Be Reimbursed After a Car Accident?

August 10, 2023 | By Impact Legal
Will My Physical Therapy Costs Be Reimbursed After a Car Accident?

Car accident victims have so many questions following a collision. Many of those questions revolve around their healing and recovery and the money it will take to do so. In this article, we're specifically highlighting physical therapy – who pays? Reasons you should consider physical therapy for your car accident injury, and more. 

If you have been hurt and left wondering how you will pay the mountain of bills on your kitchen table, give our car accident lawyers at Impact Legal a call or text today at 602-345-1818 to set up a free initial consultation. You may also fill out our online form. You won't pay us a dime until you win a settlement or jury verdict. 

What Is Physical Therapy?

Car accidents can result in serious and long-term injuries and pain. From broken bones to traumatic head injuries, spinal cord injuries, and more, accident victims are often left with a ton of costly healing to do. Physical therapy is a rehabilitative option that may help you along the recovery process, assisting you in improving and regaining physical abilities and bodily functions. 

Why Should I Get Physical Therapy?

With many benefits, physical therapy or physical rehabilitation is an investment in your recovery and wellbeing. There are several reasons you may want to consider making this investment:

  1. It improves your physical recovery AND your emotional recovery - When you physically feel better, you emotionally feel better, too. 
  2. You could avoid invasive procedures - While emergency procedures typically can't be avoided, other long-term surgical procedures can sometimes be avoided with physical therapy regimens because it helps to strengthen and heal your muscles, tendons, and ligaments. 
  3. You could heal more quickly - Physical therapy helps the recovery process, and it does so more quickly than letting your injuries “heal on their own.”
  4. You may reduce your chances of long-term pain and injury - Improving strength, flexibility, and mobility lend to staying healthy for the long run. Your PT will design protocols specifically designed for you and your injuries to maximize your recovery and potentially lessen your short-term and long-term pain. 
  5. Document your recovery process - Physical therapy also provides support for your personal injury claim, showing your will to get better and documenting your recovery timeline.  

Who Is Supposed to Pay?

Arizona and New Mexico are at-fault states, meaning the party responsible for the accident is also responsible for subsequent injuries and losses. If you seek physical therapy in order to recover and get back to your normal life, just like with other medical expenses, you may be compensated for the PT expenses. 

If you contributed some level of fault to the accident, don't assume that you'll have to pay for your own recovery. In Arizona and New Mexico, comparative negligence allows parties to share fault. This means that even if you had a certain percentage of fault in the accident, you may also be able to seek damages. A percentage of fault will be assigned to each liable party, then your settlement will be reduced by your determined percentage.  

For example, if a plaintiff was rewarded $100,000 in damages, and they were found to be 20 percent liable, they'd receive $80,000 in compensation from the defendant who was found to be 80 percent responsible for the wreck. 

As you can imagine, it's extremely helpful to consult an auto accident attorney to better understand how to determine the percentage of fault and collect evidence to better present your case to the insurance provider. Additionally, a lawyer can help you better structure your accident settlement and negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf. To set up a free initial consultation with our lawyers at Impact Legal, call or text us at 602-345-1818, or fill out our online form, and we will get in touch with you. 

To understand more about your potential accident settlement, check out our online accident settlement tool.