Florida Is A No Fault State, What Does That Mean?

Edward Reyes, Esq / November 29, 2019

You just had a wreck on I-275, the other driver clearly ran the light, and now you’re sitting in an ER thinking the at-fault driver’s insurance will cover everything. In Florida, that’s not how it works. Florida is a no-fault state, which means your own insurance pays first — and that one rule changes everything about how you handle your injury claim, who you call, and what you say to the other driver’s adjuster. TL;DR — QUICK SUMMARY Florida’s no-fault law is still in effect in 2026 — every registered vehicle must carry $10,000 in Personal Injury Protection (PIP) under Florida Statute § 627.736, and PIP pays your medical bills first regardless of who caused the crash. You must seek initial medical treatment within 14 days of the crash, or you lose your PIP benefits entirely — there are no exceptions for delayed-onset pain or scheduling problems. PIP covers only 80% of reasonable medical expenses and 60% of lost wages, up to the $10,000 cap, and it does not pay for pain and suffering. To sue the at-fault driver for pain and suffering, your injuries must meet Florida’s “serious injury threshold” under Fla. Stat. § 627.737 — typically a permanent injury, significant loss of bodily function, permanent scarring, or death. You have only two years from the crash date to file a personal injury lawsuit under Florida Statute § 95.11(3)(a), and Florida’s modified comparative fault rule bars recovery if you’re more than 50% at fault. The Reyes Firm Hurt in a Tampa Crash and Confused About No-Fault? Get clear next steps before you talk to any adjuster. Had a bad day? Contact Us Now $10,000 Minimum Florida PIP coverage Fla. Stat. § 627.736 14 Days Deadline to seek medical care Fla. Stat. § 627.736(1)(a) 2 Years Florida statute of limitations Fla. Stat. § 95.11(3)(a) 80% / 60% PIP pays medical / wage loss Fla. Stat. § 627.736(1) What does it mean that Florida is a no-fault state? Florida is a no-fault state because every driver who registers a vehicle must carry Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance that pays their own medical bills first — regardless of who actually caused the crash. The system is built into Florida Statute § 627.736, often called the Florida Motor Vehicle No-Fault Law, and it has governed car accident claims in this state since 1971. Here’s what “no-fault” actually means in practice. When you get hurt in a car crash anywhere in Florida — Tampa, Brandon, St. Pete, Lakeland — you don’t start by suing the other driver. You start by filing a claim with your own auto insurance company under the PIP coverage you’re already paying for. Your PIP carrier pays your initial medical bills and a portion of your lost wages, even if the wreck was 100% the other driver’s fault. The lawmakers behind the system wanted to cut down on lawsuits over minor injuries and get people medical care faster. What no-fault does not mean is that no one is at fault for the crash. Fault still matters. It still gets investigated. It just doesn’t decide who pays your first dollars of medical care. Is Florida still a no-fault state in 2026? Yes — Florida is still a no-fault state as of 2026, despite widespread online misinformation suggesting otherwise. The Florida Legislature has considered repealing the PIP requirement multiple times, but no repeal has become law. As of the close of the 2026 Florida legislative session, which adjourned on March 13, 2026, the no-fault PIP law remains in force, and the $10,000 minimum PIP coverage requirement still applies to most registered vehicles. If you’ve seen headlines or AI-generated search summaries claiming Florida already eliminated no-fault on July 1, 2026, those are wrong. The most recent repeal effort, Senate Bill 522, died in committee, and its companion House Bill 769 died on the same date. A 2021 repeal bill (SB 54) passed the Legislature but was vetoed by Governor Ron DeSantis. Bills have been introduced in nearly every session since, and none have made it past the Governor’s desk. The practical takeaway: if you crashed in Tampa today, the rules below are the rules that apply to your case. Don’t let outdated blog posts or AI summaries push you to act on a law that doesn’t exist yet. ⚠️ Deadline Warning: Under Florida Statute § 95.11(3)(a), you have two years from the date of your crash to file a personal injury lawsuit. Missing this deadline almost always means losing your right to recover anything. Don’t wait to call a lawyer. What does PIP insurance actually cover under Florida’s no-fault law? PIP covers a portion of your own medical bills, lost wages, and certain death benefits — but not pain and suffering, and not the full amount of either category. Florida’s no-fault law caps PIP at $10,000 per person, and it pays out as percentages rather than dollar-for-dollar. Here’s what your PIP policy is required to pay, under Fla. Stat. § 627.736: 80% of reasonable and medically necessary medical expenses, including emergency room visits, surgery, hospital stays, diagnostic imaging, rehabilitative care, and prescription medications — but only if you sought initial care within 14 days of the crash. 60% of lost wages from time you missed at work because of crash-related injuries. $5,000 in death benefits if a covered person dies as a result of the crash. Replacement services for tasks you can no longer perform around the house because of your injuries. What PIP does not cover is just as important. PIP will not pay for pain and suffering, mental anguish, loss of enjoyment of life, the 20% medical co-insurance, the 40% wage gap, or any expense that puts you over the $10,000 cap. In a serious crash with broken bones, surgery, or extended physical therapy, $10,000 disappears in a single hospital visit. Everything beyond that comes from somewhere else — and that’s where a Tampa personal injury attorney goes to work. What is the Florida 14-day rule and why does it

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I Just Had A Car Accident, How Long Does My Case Take?

Edward Reyes, Esq / November 20, 2019

You are probably wondering, how long does my case? Your case will depend on a lot of factors. If you have big injuries and there is a low policy, many times the insurance company would not want to pay right away because they know they are putting their clients at risk. This does not mean that it’s a good position for you because depending on circumstances, that may be all that you can get. Now, there are all the things that can happen within that, but it gets a bit more complicated. The insurance company in good effort must do everything compliant with the demands of the compliant. That is the first. Next, you have big injuries, bad injuries- big policy. Yes, that sounds like a good idea, however sometimes when the policy is big, the insurance company will fight it because they have enough money to fight it. With that being said, if you bad injuries and big policy, the chances of recovery are much greater. Case scenario number three, you have little injuries, big policy. The insurance company has a lot of money to fight, so it takes much longer to settle the case. Case option number four, you have big injuries, decent policy. Now, this is a more realistic scenario. When this happens, you have bad injuries and your coverage is valued out what the injuries could be, now the insurance offer is more reasonable. Tampa personal injury lawyer Edward Reyes represents people in Tampa and Hillsborough County, Florida who have suffered an injury in an incident or accident type of accident. Speak Directly to Me, At No Cost, Today 813.421.3411 At the end of the day, the insurance company has adjusters that work for them. Their job is to adjust claims down. Their job is not to pay you, but they are trying to reduce the amount for their company. That is what they are paid to do, so do not take it personally. They do not know you; they only know what’s on paper. So, if you feel that the adjusters are not treating you fairly, that is where we have to put more pressure, we have to use techniques so they raise the offer and we may have to file a suit. By filing suit, it comes in the hands of the adjusters and goes to the hands of another person which is the litigation adjuster and an attorney. If you have questions on this, call us at 813.421.3411. (Transcript from the video, transcribed but not reviewed)

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When to See A Doctor After A Car Accident?

Edward Reyes, Esq / November 19, 2019

You were just going about your day. Then a Tampa car accident changed everything. Now you’re sore but not sure if it’s “really” an injury, and the other driver’s insurance team is already working to protect their interests. Here’s what you need to know about seeing a doctor — before you say another word to them. TL;DR — QUICK SUMMARY See a doctor within 24 to 72 hours of any Florida car accident, even if you feel “fine” — adrenaline and shock routinely mask concussions, internal injuries, and soft-tissue damage. Florida’s no-fault PIP law under Florida Statute § 627.736 requires you to obtain initial medical services within 14 days of the crash or lose your $10,000 in PIP benefits entirely. Gaps in treatment are the single most common reason insurance adjusters reduce or deny a Tampa car accident claim — every missed appointment is leverage for the other side. Florida Statute § 95.11(3)(a) gives you two years from the date of the crash to file a personal injury lawsuit, but the medical record you build in the first month often decides what your case is worth. You do not have to use the at-fault driver’s “preferred” doctor; you have the right to choose your own physician and to be evaluated for delayed-onset injuries like whiplash, concussion, and disc damage. The Reyes Firm Hurt in a Tampa Car Accident? Get clear next steps before the 14-day PIP deadline. Had a bad day? Contact Us Now 14 Days FL PIP medical deadline Fla. Stat. § 627.736 $10,000 Florida PIP benefit limit Fla. Stat. § 627.736 2 Years FL statute of limitations Fla. Stat. § 95.11(3)(a) 72 Hours Delayed injury window Mayo Clinic / CDC guidance When should you see a doctor after a car accident in Tampa? You should see a doctor within 24 to 72 hours of any Florida car accident, ideally the same day. Even a “minor” crash transfers enough force to cause whiplash, concussion, internal bleeding, and soft-tissue damage that you may not feel at the scene because adrenaline and shock chemistry suppress pain signals for hours, sometimes days. By the time the discomfort actually shows up, the injury has often already begun to worsen. The honest answer most people don’t hear from the at-fault driver’s insurer: it doesn’t matter how “fine” you feel walking away. The standard medical guidance is to be evaluated as soon as possible after any collision involving airbag deployment, head impact, neck strain, abdominal contact with a seatbelt, or any loss of consciousness — and frankly, after any crash where another vehicle hit yours at speed. ⚠️ Deadline Warning: Under Florida Statute § 95.11(3)(a), you have two years from the date of your crash to file a personal injury lawsuit. But you have only 14 days to start medical treatment to keep your $10,000 in Florida PIP benefits under § 627.736. Miss the 14-day window and you lose your no-fault coverage entirely. Don’t wait to call a lawyer or a doctor. Why is the 14-day PIP rule so important after a Florida car accident? Florida is a no-fault auto insurance state, which means your own Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage pays the first $10,000 of your medical bills regardless of who caused the crash — but only if you obtain “initial services and care” within 14 days of the accident. This deadline is written directly into Florida Statute § 627.736 and the insurance industry enforces it strictly. Two things go wrong when people miss the 14-day deadline. First, they lose access to PIP coverage entirely, which means thousands of dollars of medical bills come out of their own pocket or get pushed onto their health insurance. Second, the gap between the crash and the first medical visit becomes the at-fault driver’s favorite argument — that you weren’t really hurt, or that the injury came from something else. The 14-day rule isn’t just an insurance technicality; it’s a legal trap for people who try to “tough it out.” What injuries are commonly missed at the scene of a Tampa car accident? The most dangerous car accident injuries are the ones that don’t show up at the scene. Emergency responders are trained to triage life-threatening trauma first, and many serious injuries simply don’t produce visible symptoms in the minutes after a crash. By the time the symptoms catch up to you, the underlying damage may be days or weeks ahead of the pain. Injuries that commonly stay hidden in the first 24 to 72 hours include: Concussion and mild traumatic brain injury — headache, brain fog, light sensitivity, sleep disruption, and memory problems often start a full day or two after impact, especially when there was no loss of consciousness Whiplash and cervical strain — neck stiffness and reduced range of motion typically peak between 24 and 72 hours, long after the adrenaline has worn off Herniated and bulging discs — radiating pain, numbness, or weakness in an arm or leg can take weeks to fully present, even though the disc injury occurred at impact Internal bleeding and organ damage — abdominal pain, lightheadedness, and bruising after a seatbelt impact can signal a life-threatening injury that needs immediate imaging Soft-tissue and ligament tears — shoulder, knee, and wrist injuries often feel like soreness at first and only declare themselves when swelling and inflammation peak Psychological injury — anxiety, intrusive thoughts, sleep disruption, and avoidance of driving are real, compensable injuries that need clinical documentation 💡 Did You Know? According to FLHSMV’s 2024 “By the Numbers” report, Florida recorded more than 395,000 crashes in 2024, with roughly 247,000 injuries reported statewide. Hillsborough County alone consistently ranks among the top three Florida counties for traffic crashes. Source: FLHSMV By the Numbers 2024, flhsmv.gov. Note: 2024 crash numbers are preliminary. Which doctor should you see first after a car accident in Tampa? The right first stop depends on what you’re feeling, but the rule of thumb is to go higher rather than lower. If there is any chance

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Slip, Falls and Premise Liability

Edward Reyes, Esq / November 4, 2019

Liability is when you’re injured inside a premise, a building, a structure of somebody or a company or likewise. It could be that you’re injured in someone’s home. It could be that you’re injured in their yard. It could be that you’re inside a company, like a grocery store, and you slip and you fell. It could be that you’re in an apartment complex, and you slipped and you fell. Or going down the stairs, you may have slipped and fallen because the stairs were improperly placed on that stairway. Premise liability is different than regular car accidents and regular personal injury in the sense that instead of going after car insurance, you’re going after liability insurance that that company or those homeowners may have a homeowner’s coverages, or that company may have it as liability coverage for incidences for injuries. Every case is different, and there’s still a duty to mitigate, which means if you had an injury from falling down, and you decided not to go to the doctor, and you decided not to get help for any reason, and you made the condition worse. Tampa personal injury lawyer Edward Reyes represents people in Tampa and Hillsborough County, Florida who have suffered an injury in an incident or accident type of accident. Speak Directly to Me, At No Cost, Today 813.421.3411 Well, the other insurance company, or the insurance company even though you’re not at fault, is going to deduct part of your injuries and your recovery because you didn’t mitigate or reduce the number of losses that you could’ve saved. As well as, if it was Open and Obvious. If you went to a store, and you saw that the floor was wet, you saw that there was a stack of books there, you saw, or it could’ve been there for a period that you could’ve seen it, and at that point, it’s going to raise an argument of Open and Obvious. That does not mean that it’s a grand slam on the other side, that just means it creates issues when fighting the case because they’re going to claim Open and Obvious. On the flip side to that, if it’s a condition that is not readily visible to you, but it’s been there for a long period of time, that’s also considered constructive notice. So when you’re dealing with premise liability, either slip and falls or just general premise liability, the issues that come up are Open and Obvious on their side and constructive notice. And then, of course, the injuries itself, and the number of damages, and the duty to mitigate. If you have any questions about this, feel free to give us a call. Our number is 813-421-3411. (Transcript from the video, transcribed but not reviewed)

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What Are Moped Accidents and Why Are they on the Rise?

Edward Reyes, Esq / November 4, 2019

You were just riding through Tampa like any other day. Then a careless driver turned across your path and your moped accident changed everything. Now you’re in pain, staring at medical bills, and the at-fault driver’s insurance company is already working to protect their bottom line. Here’s what you need to know before you say another word to them. TL;DR — QUICK SUMMARY Moped use is climbing across Tampa’s dense, walkable neighborhoods, and more riders on the road means more serious crashes with cars and trucks. Moped riders are far more exposed than people inside cars, so even a low-speed collision can cause head trauma, broken bones, and spinal injuries. Florida’s no-fault PIP coverage usually does not protect moped and motorcycle riders the way it protects car occupants, which changes how you recover compensation. Under Florida Statute § 95.11(3)(a), you generally have two years from the date of the crash to file a personal injury lawsuit. Your recovery typically comes from the at-fault driver’s bodily injury liability coverage and, in many cases, your own uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. The Reyes Firm Hurt in a Moped Accident in Tampa? Get clear next steps after a serious moped crash. Had a bad day? Contact Us Now 2 Years Florida statute of limitations Fla. Stat. § 95.11(3)(a) 30 mph Top speed that legally defines a moped Fla. Stat. § 316.003 Under 16 Moped riders required to wear a helmet Fla. Stat. § 316.211 50%+ Fault that bars recovery in Florida Fla. Stat. § 768.81 Why are moped accidents on the rise in Tampa? Moped accidents are rising in Tampa because more people are choosing mopeds for short, everyday trips in dense neighborhoods where they live, work, and play within a few miles. Instead of pulling out a car for a quick errand, residents grab a moped, and the result is far more two-wheel traffic sharing the road with cars, SUVs, and delivery trucks. That shift creates predictable danger. Drivers in Tampa simply are not looking for mopeds. They check for other cars at intersections, on University-area streets, and along busy corridors, but they overlook smaller, slower vehicles in the lane next to them. Left-turn collisions, sideswipes, and rear-end crashes follow, and the rider almost always absorbs the worst of it. Can you file a claim after a moped accident in Tampa, Florida? Yes, you can file a claim after a moped accident in Tampa if another party’s negligence caused or contributed to the crash. A driver who turned in front of you, ran a light, or never checked their mirror can be held financially responsible for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. The key is acting before the clock runs out and before critical evidence disappears. Skid marks fade, vehicles get repaired, and witness memories blur within days. The sooner a Tampa moped accident lawyer starts protecting the facts, the stronger your claim tends to be. ⚠️ Deadline Warning: Under Florida Statute § 95.11(3)(a), you generally have two years from the date of your crash to file a personal injury lawsuit. Missing this deadline almost always means losing your right to recover anything. Don’t wait to call a lawyer. Watch: Why moped accidents happen and what to do In this short video, Edward Reyes, Esq. explains why mopeds are out on Tampa roads more than ever and what coverage matters if you are injured while riding. If you still have questions after watching, The Reyes Firm offers a free consultation so you can talk through your specific situation with a real attorney. Why do moped accident injuries tend to be so severe? Moped injuries are so severe because the rider has almost nothing between their body and the road. There is no steel cage, no airbag, and no seatbelt, so the forces of a collision transfer directly to the person instead of the vehicle. That is why even a “minor” crash can leave a moped rider with a traumatic brain injury, a spinal cord injury, broken bones, road rash, or internal trauma. Many of the cases we see look similar to the most serious motorcycle accident claims, because the physics of a two-wheel crash are unforgiving. 💡 Did You Know? Under Florida Statute § 316.003, a true “moped” is narrowly defined as a low-powered vehicle with pedals that cannot exceed 30 mph on level ground. Many vehicles riders call “mopeds” are actually motor scooters under the law, which can change registration, licensing, and insurance rules after a crash. Source: Florida Statutes, leg.state.fl.us. Who is liable after a moped accident in Tampa? Liability after a moped accident depends on who failed to use reasonable care, and it is often the driver of the other vehicle. A motorist who turns left across your lane, fails to yield, follows too closely, or opens a door into your path can be held responsible for the harm they caused. In some cases, more than one party shares fault. A government entity responsible for a dangerous road defect, a business that overserved an impaired driver, or a maintenance shop that botched a repair can all be pulled into a claim. Identifying every responsible party matters, because it often determines how much insurance coverage is actually available to you. 🛡️ Your Rights Under Florida Law: Under Florida Statute § 768.81, your compensation is reduced by your share of fault, and you may be barred from recovery if you are found greater than 50% responsible for your own harm. An experienced Tampa moped accident lawyer works to protect the facts, challenge unfair blame, and keep your percentage of fault as low as the evidence allows. Does Florida no-fault insurance cover moped accident injuries? Usually not in the way riders expect. Florida’s no-fault system, built around Personal Injury Protection under Florida Statute § 627.736, is designed for people injured while occupying a car, not riders on two wheels. PIP benefits generally do not extend to injuries you suffer while riding a moped or motorcycle. That gap is exactly why

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E- Scooter and Car Accidents: The Difference Between the Two

Edward Reyes, Esq / November 4, 2019

Scooters are fun. Scooters are growing. You see scooters now on every corner. In fact, in every area in Florida especially in every major city in Florida, you’ll see scooters growing in popularity amongst every age group. Scooters are unique because you do not need insurance and you do not need a license and you do not need a helmet. Tampa personal injury lawyer Edward Reyes represents people in Tampa and Hillsborough County, Florida who have suffered an injury in an incident or accident type of accident. Speak Directly to Me, At No Cost, Today 813.421.3411 With all that being said, if you’re involved in a scooter accident and you don’t have a helmet on the insurance company that’s protecting their client that’s the at-fault party can and will reduce the damages to your head if the helmet would have reduced the damages. If you do not own a car you can be covered by the person that crashed into you, the at-fault party’s personal injury protection for your medical, your lost wages and we can submit a claim against that party for the pain and suffering that they’ve caused you. Call us now for more information. (Transcript from the video, transcribed but not reviewed)

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Traumatic Brain Injury how is it Caused?

Edward Reyes, Esq / November 4, 2019

When you have the whiplash, motion, either side to side or forward, there’s a liquid, and you can, of course, you know a lot more than I do. We just help people recover from their injuries. But, a liquid inside that protects the brain a little bit but, because of the impact, it crashes back and forth into the skull walls, but if you can just kind of elaborate more on what you’ve seen on the traumatic brain injuries. Well, the brain is swimming in the fluid. There is a number of structures that are anchoring the brain down to the neck, et cetera. And those are the structures that tend to be stretched by the motion of the brain inside the skull. In this, deceleration injuries, you’re going at 80 miles per hour and all of a sudden, you’re at zero miles per hour. Traumatic Brain Injury Your brain wants to keep going. And when it does, it stretches a big number of possible structures inside your skull that can cause the traumatic brain injury. It could be even bleeding from that. Now, and I’ve heard the statistic, and I don’t know how true this is, 70 to 80% of CT scans miss traumatic brain injury, cause CT only shows if there’s hemorrhaging or blood in the brain, but, have you heard anything of each, CT scan has a very low sensitivity for traumatic brain injury, unless there is a bleed, which is, thankfully, not very common because of how strong the skull is. You don’t see evidence of traumatic brain injury in a CT scan, which is what is typically performed in ERs. What do we see, what are common, if somebody was out there, what are the common symptoms, I guess, I would ask, if somebody said, and, you know, we’ve heard, “I just don’t feel right”, or, “I feel dizzy.” What have you found is the most common symptoms, what do you, traumatic brain injury.⁣ Time of the Accident Well, the patient would have an initial loss of consciousness at the time of the accident and then when they come back they, as you said, they don’t feel right, they feel dizzy, they feel this vertigo-like everything is moving around. They can have a severe headache. And then, which is the most concerning, is that these symptoms may dissipate initially, and then they would start having chronic symptoms of traumatic brain injury which would even include emotional liability, problems like that, yeah.⁣ Tampa personal injury lawyer Edward Reyes represents people in Tampa and Hillsborough County, Florida who have suffered an injury in an incident or accident type of accident. Speak Directly to Me, At No Cost, Today 813.421.3411 So, a lot of times, focusing, maybe connecting with loved ones, you know, vertigo, standing up, mood swings, okay, stuff like that. Yeah, cause a lot of people, I think that they’re not really thinking about this traumatic brain injury issue, but it is happening, because even at low impacts, we’ve seen that it does affect people’s mood, they just don’t feel right, in the field. They feel off, that we’ve heard. They don’t understand what is happening. Nobody’s told them they could have a traumatic brain injury. And they just can’t back to their lives and they don’t know why. Call 813.421.3411 for more information. (Transcript from the video, transcribed but not reviewed)

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Where Do Injuries Come From After a Car Accident?

Edward Reyes, Esq / November 4, 2019

After a crash, the question is rarely just “does it hurt?” It is “why does it hurt here, and why didn’t it hurt yesterday?” The forces in a collision can injure parts of your body you would never expect, and some of those injuries stay silent for days. Understanding where post-crash pain comes from helps you protect both your health and your injury claim. The Reyes Firm Hurting After a Crash in Tampa? Even hidden injuries deserve to be documented and valued. Had a bad day? Contact Us Now 24-72 Hrs When delayed symptoms often appear Adrenaline and inflammation 14 Days Deadline to seek care for PIP Fla. Stat. § 627.736(1)(a) Permanent Injury finding needed for pain and suffering Fla. Stat. § 627.737(2) 2 Years Deadline to file an injury claim Fla. Stat. § 95.11 A collision sends sudden, violent forces through the body, and those forces do not stop at the surface. They travel through muscles, joints, the spine, and even the brain, sometimes causing damage that is not obvious for days. Knowing the common sources of post-crash injury helps you take your symptoms seriously and get the care and documentation you need. Where do injuries come from after a car accident? Injuries after a crash come from the rapid transfer of force through your body at the moment of impact. Even a low-speed collision can generate enough energy to stretch, tear, compress, or jolt the structures that hold you together. Because a crash affects the whole body at once, it is common to have more than one injury, and to have injuries in places that took the indirect force rather than the direct hit. That is why post-crash pain can be confusing. The part of you that hurts the most may not be the part that was struck, and the injury doing the most long-term damage may be the one you notice last. What are the most common sources of post-crash pain? Most injuries after a car accident trace back to a handful of structures, each with its own pattern: Muscles, ligaments, and tendons. The classic example is whiplash, where the head snaps back and forth and strains the soft tissues of the neck. These injuries cause pain and stiffness that often build over the following days. Spinal discs. The cushions between your vertebrae can bulge or herniate under crash forces, pressing on nearby nerves and causing back or neck pain, sometimes with radiating symptoms. Facet joints. The small joints that connect the vertebrae can be injured and become a persistent source of spine pain, which doctors sometimes investigate with a medial branch block. Nerves. When a disc, joint, or swelling presses on a nerve, the result can be numbness, tingling, weakness, or shooting pain that travels down an arm or leg. Bones and joints. Fractures and joint damage to the shoulders, wrists, knees, ribs, and pelvis are common, especially where the body braced against the impact. The brain. A traumatic brain injury or concussion can occur even without striking your head, because the same motion that causes whiplash can shift the brain inside the skull. The most severe crashes can cause a spinal cord injury or other catastrophic harm, but even injuries that seem minor at first can have a lasting impact if they are not properly diagnosed and treated. Why don’t injuries always hurt right away? One of the most important things to understand after a crash is that feeling fine at the scene does not mean you were not hurt. In the moments after a collision, your body floods with adrenaline and stress hormones that mask pain and let you function. As those hormones fade over the first 24 to 72 hours, the true extent of your injuries begins to surface. Inflammation plays a role too. When muscles, ligaments, and nerves are injured, the body’s inflammatory response builds gradually, peaking a day or two later. Medical authorities such as the Mayo Clinic and Cleveland Clinic note that whiplash and concussion symptoms in particular often take time to appear, which is why so many people feel fine driving away from a crash and wake up in serious pain two mornings later. 💡 Did You Know? Because serious injuries can stay hidden for days, Florida’s 14-day rule matters more than most people realize. You must seek initial medical care within 14 days of a crash to keep your Personal Injury Protection benefits. Waiting because you feel fine can cost you both your health and the coverage you already pay for. Source: Fla. Stat. § 627.736(1)(a). Why can pain show up somewhere other than the injury? Post-crash pain often appears in a different place than the injury itself, a phenomenon doctors call referred or radiating pain. It happens because the body’s nerves are interconnected. A herniated disc or an irritated nerve root in your neck, for example, can produce pain, numbness, or weakness that travels into your shoulder, arm, or hand, even though the source of the problem is your spine. This is exactly why the location of your pain does not always reveal its cause, and why proper diagnosis matters so much. Chasing the symptom instead of the source can mean treating the wrong thing, which is frustrating for you and useful to an insurer looking to argue your injury is not serious. ⚠️ Deadline Warning: Under Florida Statute § 95.11, you generally have two years from the date of your crash to file a personal injury lawsuit, even for an injury that took days or weeks to reveal itself. This was shortened from four years in March 2023. Do not let a hidden injury run out the clock on your claim. Why does finding the true source of your injury matter? Finding the real source of your pain matters for two reasons. Medically, an accurate diagnosis is the foundation of effective treatment, since treating the symptom rather than the source rarely resolves the problem. Legally, a documented diagnosis connects your symptoms to a specific injury

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Herniations VS Bulging Disk

Edward Reyes, Esq / November 4, 2019

Some people have a misnomer of herniations is worse than bulging. If you could just kind of talk to us through that a little bit. – Yeah, there’s a lot of confusion that in rear-ending injuries that the basic mechanism is what we call a flexion-extension injury where the initial motion of the patient is forward with a backlash where there are two very common injuries. One to the ligaments that support the neck and to the disks that is separate the vertebrae in the neck. In those, we see what is common as seen as disk, or heard as, disk herniations, but the level, the severity, of that herniation is what prompts the severity of the symptoms. So a radiologist read a disk herniation in different ways which can be confusing. Herniation In general, a bulge is a step prior to a herniation. So it’s a very small herniation that is typically not causing symptoms, but that is not always true. Many times a disk bulge can cause symptoms of neck pain and sometimes pinched nerves in the neck that cause pain down the arms or into the head. A herniation can be divided into either a protrusion or an extrusion. Now to continue on that of course, but what exactly, and definitely go into the protrusion and extrusion things like that, but what exactly for everybody out there that don’t know what herniation even is, is that the disk that comes out of place? Let me show you this cause I like to show it. I don’t know if I can show the camera, but in the spine there are vertebrae. This is what you touch in the back. Whenever you touch the back of your neck you touch this part of the spine. The bones in between are separated by a structure that is mostly a gel. Designed for cushioning between the bones, and they are supposed to be fairly aligned with the edges of the bone. A herniated disk is when that gel comes out of place, typically backward where the nerves Are coming out of. Hence creating pain going down your arms or something like that correct? And so that’s what a herniated disk is. What exactly is a bulge then? It’s just used in small herniation?⁣- Well, a bulge is typically a smaller herniation. Then when a herniation is a protrusion versus an extrusion what that typically means is a disk can herniate moving completely out or it can break. Tampa personal injury lawyer Edward Reyes represents people in Tampa and Hillsborough County, Florida who have suffered an injury in an incident or accident type of accident. Speak Directly to Me, At No Cost, Today 813.421.3411 A Tear in the Fibers There can be a tear in the fibers of the disk and that gel comes out almost free-flowing into where the spine and the nerves are. And an extrusion is typically considered the most severe form of a disk herniation. Logically I would imagine if the gel or the liquid is coming out it would cause pain, but why does it cause pain? Is it because, well is it because it’s hitting the nerve roots or what? Why does it? – Two main reasons. One, the mechanical aspect of the disk pinching against the nerve, so it’s just pushing against it. It’s making this nice and big hole very small. And the other one is that a herniated disk is very inflammatory. It’s very warm and red. It’s angry. ⁣Everything it touches it causes it to be red and angry as well. So when the disk barely touches the nerve it can also cause the nerve to be very irritated and cause pain. That’s why even small herniations that do not appear to be impinging mechanically on a nerve can still cause a lot of pain. Call 813.421.3411 for help. (Transcript from the video, transcribed but not reviewed)

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The Most Common Rear-End Type Injuries

Edward Reyes, Esq / November 4, 2019

Whenever you get a person that got rear-ended, what are the most common injuries that you find from those types of accidents? Spine injuries to the neck. So what we call the cervical spine in the neck is very frequently injured and it presents with a variety of symptoms sometimes with very severe headaches, neck pain, pain in the shoulders. Tampa personal injury lawyer Edward Reyes represents people in Tampa and Hillsborough County, Florida who have suffered an injury in an incident or accident type of accident. Speak Directly to Me, At No Cost, Today 813.421.3411 Sometimes these patients even have something called vertigo where the patient feels dizzy and the world around them turns constantly. It’s not that uncommon to see that in a rear-ending injury. Now when you mentioned spinal injuries, ’cause there are different types of spinal injuries as well and different things that affect the disc, just walk us through what specifically do you find, herniations? Call us at 813.421.3411 for more information. (Transcript from the video, transcribed but not reviewed)

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