Airport Accident and Injury Center

Some auto accident injuries are hidden and are seldom detected for months or even years. As a result things can occur when an injury is not taken care of properly or the accident victims settle their case with the insurance companies before getting evaluated by a doctor trained in soft tissue injuries. This could be a big mistake. Why? Because you lose the right to have your insurance company pay for treatment if you need it. A good rule of thumb is to be informed of your rights and then make a decision. It is our position that if you were indeed injured you should get the care you need to get back to the way you felt and functioned just before the accident.

It is not the responsibility of the insurance company to pay for anything more than that. They are not responsible for preexisting injuries only the injuries sustained from the accident. Even if you are just sore you should get checked out immediately because you may experience pain, numbness, headaches, muscle stiffness, fatigue, and other problems including arthritis many months down the road. Remember nothing is more important than your health especially when you start to lose it.

As a matter of fact most doctors are not trained in the detection of these hidden injuries. If you have been in an auto accident you need a doctor who is trained in the biomechanics of the human body, someone who treats these injuries every day. In addition xrays can be taken to find out if there has been any structural damage. In our office we evaluate auto accident victims and make any appropriate referrals to other health care providers if needed.

Our primary responsibility is giving you the care if you need it and submitting the required medical reports to the insurance company and your attorney so your rights are protected.

If you have been in an auto accident recently there are important decisions you have to make and if I were you I would make the decisions very carefully.

No Fault Insurance describes any auto insurance that both requires drivers to carry insurance for their own protection and limits their ability to sue other drivers for damages. Under the no fault law your auto insurance company will pay for your damages (up to your policy limits) regardless of whom was at fault for the accident. Any other drivers involved will be covered by their own auto insurance policies.

Under a pure no fault system drivers would be completely covered by their own policy and would be barred from suing another driver for damages. No state however uses a pure system. Florida uses parts of both, the no fault system, and the standard liability system (under which you are financially responsible for the cost of damages you cause). Florida still permits lawsuits in certain cases. The primary benefit to no fault insurance is that it guarantees every driver immediate medical treatment in the event of an accident.

The actual no fault part of your auto insurance policy is called personal injury protection or PIP.

Insurance companies have been permitted to offer an array of optional deductibles. In 1982 the Florida Legislature reduced the optional deductibles amounts to $250.00, $500.00, $1000.00 and $2000.00.

Under Florida Statute §627.739.(1) an individual may elect a deductible on PIP coverage to apply to the individual alone or to the individual (and dependent, relatives residing in the same household). This deductible does not apply to any other person covered under the policy (i.e., passenger who is not a dependent, relative, pedestrian or bicyclist). The amount payable by the insurance company when the PIP policy carries a deductible is computed by multiplying the total medical expenses by 80% and thereafter subtracting the deductible.

Whenever the physical or mental condition of the insured is “material” to any claim for benefits the insurance company can require the patient to submit to an Independent Medical Examinations (IME).

Unlike cases involving liability insurance, PIP insurance companies select physicians of their choice. It is important to note that the right of the insurance company to obtain such exams is an integral part of the No-Fault Law. Accordingly, the patient/insured’s refusal to submit to a PIP independent medical exam (even when such refusal is on the advise of counsel) may constitute a material breach of the insurance contract. This will release the insurance company from further liability for payment.

1. Help everyone to a safe place
2. Don’t move your car unless instructed by someone in authority
3. Assist the injured
4. Call 911, Request police, medical and fire assistant as necessary
5. Do NOT discuss the accident with anyone but police
6. Turn on hazard lights and put out markers and flares as appropriate
7. Exchange information with all drivers involved in the accident
8. Get names, addresses and phone numbers of all witnesses
9. Get photographs of vehicles and other objects involved. Include skid marks, if any, and full views of scene
10. Write down everything the others involved in the accident say about it and everything you can remember as soon as you can

1. Do not give a recorded statement to the other driver’s insurance company. It can be used against you later on. You want to control your case and the release of information. Insurance companies must ask you for your permission in order to record an interview.
2. Do not make friendly conversation with the adjuster. Stick to business only and only tell them the “Who”, “What”, “When”, and “Where” not the “How”. Keep your answers short use “Yes” and “No”.
3. Do not give out information about your family or let them know who your doctors are.
4. Do not sign a medical release. Federal law protects your medical records. The insurance companies may use this release to dig through all your medical history even things not related to the car accident.

You should be evaluated as soon as possible, even if symptoms feel minor. In Florida, early care helps detect hidden injuries, begin proper treatment, and document your condition within the important post-accident timeframe.

Adrenaline and inflammation can delay pain after a crash. Neck stiffness, back pain, headaches, spasms, or soreness may appear later, making early accident injury evaluation important before symptoms worsen.

Even low-speed crashes can cause whiplash, sprains, muscle damage, joint irritation, disc injuries, headaches, and nerve symptoms. A proper exam helps identify injuries that may not be obvious immediately.

Watch for neck pain, headaches, dizziness, shoulder pain, back pain, stiffness, numbness, tingling, spasms, or reduced mobility. These may be signs of whiplash or other accident-related injuries.

Medical documentation connects your symptoms, exam findings, treatment, and recovery to the accident. Clear records help your doctors, attorney, and insurance company understand the seriousness of your injuries.

Detailed records document pain levels, examination findings, treatment progress, referrals, and diagnostic needs. In a car accident injury case, this helps show how the crash affected your body and recovery.

Her reports clearly describe accident injuries, clinical findings, treatment plans, diagnostic recommendations, and patient progress. This gives attorneys strong medical information to better understand and present the injury case.

Yes. With patient authorization, Dr. Quintero can coordinate with your personal injury attorney by providing medical records, treatment updates, diagnostic findings, and documentation related to your accident injuries.

An expert witness explains injuries, treatment, test findings, and long-term effects in clear medical terms. This can help the court understand how a car accident affected the patient’s body.

Expert testimony may be needed when injuries, treatment, diagnosis, or accident-related damages are disputed. In those cases, Dr. Quintero can help explain the medical evidence behind your injury claim.

Yes. When needed, Dr. Quintero can testify as an expert witness and explain your accident injuries, treatment, diagnostic findings, and medical documentation in a professional and understandable way.

Yes. Mild pain can be the first sign of whiplash, soft tissue damage, joint injury, or disc trauma. Early evaluation helps identify hidden injuries before they become harder to treat.

Untreated whiplash may lead to chronic neck pain, headaches, stiffness, muscle spasms, reduced mobility, and nerve irritation. Early treatment can help reduce inflammation and support better healing.

Recovery depends on the injury, your health, diagnostic findings, and treatment consistency. Some patients improve in weeks, while disc injuries, whiplash, nerve symptoms, or severe soft tissue damage may take longer.

Your first visit includes a detailed accident history, symptom review, orthopedic and neurological testing, range-of-motion evaluation, injury documentation, and treatment or diagnostic recommendations when medically necessary.

No referral is usually needed. Car accident patients can contact Airport Accident & Injury Center directly to schedule an evaluation, begin treatment, and document injuries after a South Florida crash.

Yes. AAIC works with patients who already have personal injury attorneys. With your permission, the office can provide treatment updates, medical records, reports, and documentation needed for your case.

Yes. You can be evaluated and treated even without an attorney. The first priority is identifying your injuries, starting proper care, and documenting your condition after the accident.

Bring your photo ID, auto insurance information, accident report if available, attorney information if applicable, prior medical records, imaging results, and a list of symptoms since the crash.

AAIC combines accident-focused chiropractic care, detailed medical documentation, diagnostic referrals, attorney coordination, and expert witness support when needed to help protect your physical recovery and injury claim.