After a Florida car accident, your car insurance company often will send you to one of their doctors who, most times, will say that you are not hurt and that your insurance company should pay any insurance benefits. The Florida statute calls this an Independent Medical Examination. However, there is nothing independent about it. The correct name should be Compulsory Medical Examination.
So, do you really have to go to the insurance company's doctor? Florida's 3rd District Court of Appeals confirmed this week that if you don't go, don't expect any insurance benefits.
The District Court of Appeals ruled that if the insured fails to comply with attending a compulsory medical examination, the insured failed to comply with a condition precedent which constitutes grounds to enter judgment for the insurer. In other words, if you don't go to the insurance company's doctor, the insurance company does not have to pay those insurance benefits you have been paying premiums for for so many years.
This is another reason why it is important that you have an attorney looking out for you after a Florida car accident. My law firm has been representing those injured in Florida automobile accidents and work injuries for over 52 years. To contact me for more information about your rights after a Florida car accident or work comp claim, simply click here.
