Hurt and Can't Leave Home? How to Get a Lawyer to You

You do not have to go anywhere. A personal injury lawyer can come to your hospital room or your home, and a family member can make the first call on your behalf. Wolfson & Leon answers its phones around the clock with a live person, not a voicemail, and will travel to wherever you are in the Hialeah area.

Can a family member make the call for me?

Yes. You do not need to be the one who calls a lawyer. A spouse, parent, adult child, or trusted friend can contact the firm, explain what happened, and give the hospital name and room number or home address. This is important because many families hear advice like “just focus on recovery” and delay legal help until it is too late. That delay can hurt your rights. In Hialeah, patients are often treated at Hialeah Hospital or Palmetto General. Serious trauma cases may be transferred to Ryder Trauma Center at Jackson Memorial. Wherever you are, someone can call for you. The call does not sign you up for anything. It simply opens the door to get your questions answered. Wolfson & Leon’s phones are answered by a live person 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including holidays.

How does a hospital or home visit actually work?

The lawyer comes to you. You stay in your hospital bed or your living room. The consultation is free and creates no obligation to hire anyone. During the visit, the attorney will listen to what happened, explain your legal rights, and identify urgent deadlines like the 14-day PIP window. Wolfson & Leon travels throughout Hialeah and Miami-Dade to meet clients where they are. Because the firm works on a contingency fee, no money changes hands during the visit. You pay no attorney fee unless there is a recovery. You may be responsible for case costs, such as filing fees or expert reports, but all terms are explained in writing before you decide whether to move forward.

What should the family do this week while I recover?

While you rest, your family can take five specific steps from the hospital or home:

1. Take photos of visible injuries, vehicle damage, and the crash scene if it is safe to return.
2. Get the crash report number from the responding officer or through the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles portal. Under Florida law, the report is confidential for 60 days, but you, your insurer, and your lawyer can obtain it right away.
3. Save every communication from any insurance company, mail, email, text, or voicemail. Do not delete or reply.
4. Do not sign anything, especially settlement offers or medical releases. A release can end your claim, and it may be difficult to undo once signed.
5. List every treating provider, doctors, nurses, specialists, so your lawyer can request those medical records later.

These tasks protect your claim without requiring you to leave your room.

My ER visit was within 14 days, am I protected for PIP?

An ER visit within 14 days satisfies Florida’s deadline to qualify for Personal Injury Protection (PIP) benefits under Fla. Stat. § 627.736(1)(a). But the amount you receive depends on what the doctor documents. If a physician finds an emergency medical condition, PIP pays 80 percent of reasonable medical bills and 60 percent of lost wages, up to $10,000. Without that finding, the limit drops to $2,500. PIP pays regardless of who caused the crash. Your own auto policy pays first. If you do not have coverage, your resident relative’s policy applies. Only if neither exists does the at-fault vehicle’s PIP apply, and only for Florida-resident pedestrians or cyclists. Follow-up care matters. Gaps in treatment let insurers argue your injuries were minor or unrelated to the crash.

Why shouldn’t I just give the insurance company a quick statement from the hospital?

Because that “quick statement” can destroy your case. The at-fault driver’s insurance adjuster has no legal right to your statement, and you owe them nothing. Your own insurer may require cooperation, but you should speak to a lawyer first, and have the lawyer present during any statement. What you say while medicated or in pain can be used against you later. Saying “I’m fine” on day one becomes evidence when you are still in pain on day ten. Under Florida’s modified comparative negligence rule (Fla. Stat. § 768.81(6)), recovery is barred entirely if you are found more than 50 percent at fault. A recorded statement from your hospital bed can hand the insurer exactly the argument they need. Wolfson & Leon can attend any required statement with you.

How do I get my medical records, and why does the lawyer need them?

You have a right to copies of your medical records. Under Fla. Stat. § 456.057, you have the right to access them. Your lawyer needs them to prove your injuries were caused by the crash, calculate future care needs, and respond to claims about pre-existing conditions. Do not sign a broad medical release that lets insurers dig through years of unrelated history. Your attorney will request only relevant records using a HIPAA-compliant authorization. Your family can start now by asking the hospital’s medical-records department for the admission and treatment notes from the crash date. This can be done from your bedside and does not require a lawyer.

Frequently asked questions

What if my family member is unconscious or can’t speak, can someone else still call a lawyer?
Yes. A spouse, parent, adult child, or close friend can call on behalf of an injured person who cannot speak. They can share basic facts, provide the location, and ask for a consultation. No legal authority is needed just to make the initial call.

The insurance adjuster says they just need a quick statement to process my claim faster, is that true?
No. The adjuster’s goal is to close the claim for as little as possible. A “quick statement” often includes questions designed to minimize your injuries or assign you blame. You are not required to give a statement to the at-fault driver’s insurer.

I went to the ER the night of the crash. Does that count for the 14-day PIP rule?
Yes. An emergency room visit on the same day or within 14 days of the crash satisfies the deadline under Florida law. But to get the full $10,000 in PIP benefits, a doctor must document an emergency medical condition.

What if I already signed something the insurance company sent to the house?
Call a lawyer immediately. Some releases can be challenged, especially if signed under pressure, without understanding, or without proper capacity. Do not assume it is final until an attorney reviews it.

Does it cost anything to have a lawyer come to my hospital room or home?
No. Wolfson & Leon provides free consultations at your location. There is no fee for the visit, and no obligation to hire the firm. Attorney fees are paid only if there is a recovery, as outlined in a written agreement.

Related reading: I was in a car accident in Hialeah. What do I do now? · The 14-day PIP rule in Florida: what happens if you wait to see a doctor after a Hialeah car accident · No, You Do Not Have to Give the Other Driver’s Insurer a Recorded Statement · How long do I have to file an injury lawsuit in Florida? The two-year rule after HB 837

Hurt in an accident in Hialeah? Call Wolfson & Leon at (305) 285-7071 for a free consultation. We speak Spanish, and there is no fee unless we win.