How Are Medical Bills Paid After a Car Accident?
One of the main reasons why car accidents are dreaded is because they’re associated with a range of high expenses. Medical bills aren’t the only expenses you can be saddled with following a car accident. You may also lose wages and have to pay for property damage. And if you’re the one who caused the accident, you’re not only paying for your own expenses but for those other parties have as well. Expect your insurance premium to go up as well, whether you caused the accident or not.
But when it comes to medical bills, since these are often the heftiest of the expenses, people have a lot of questions about these, including:
- How are medical bills paid?
- Do you have to pay them up front?
- What kind of medical bills can you expect from a car accident?
- How is your health insurance provider involved when you’re saddled with car accident medical bills?
For answers to these questions and more information that you should know whether you’ve been involved in a car accident recently or not, read through the following sections.
Call 1-800-HURT-511 to be connected with top-tier accident lawyers in East New York who will exhaust every option to get you the fair compensation you deserve. The lawyers we work with are sought-after because they’re multilingual, skilled, experienced, and dedicated.
Should Medical Attention Be Sought Right Away After a Car Accident?
Seeking medical attention in the wake of a car accident is of critical importance. If you don’t do this, you may preclude yourself from seeking damages later on. At a hospital, you will be thoroughly examined and treated for injuries sustained during the accident, and then a record will be created to document these injuries. The physician who’s examining/treating you will also give a prognosis.
All the while, you’ll be racking up bills for these exams and treatments as you go. You should keep medical records and medical bills together, as both will be needed when you go to file a claim.
You should not avoid seeking medical attention because you don’t want to pay medical bills. You might have injuries that, if not treated properly, may get significantly worse. Plus, if you weren’t at fault for the accident, you won’t have to pay for these costs, as they will be covered by your settlement.
What Medical Bills Are Associated With Car Accidents?
You can be saddled with a range of medical bills following a car accident. Here are some of the things you might be billed for:
- Treatments
- Exams
- Prescriptions
- Rehabilitation
- Hospital stay
- Ambulance ride
- Long-term care
The kinds of bills you receive is largely determined by what kind of injuries you sustain. Obviously, if surgery is going to be required following a car accident, you’ll be paying high medical bills. Similarly, if you suffer a traumatic brain injury (TBI) because of a car accident, you can expect to be paying high medical bills at first and then smaller, reoccurring medical bills from that point on.
What Happens if I Can’t Pay Medical Bills up Front?
If you can’t pay for your medical bills up front, you will probably have to sign an agreement with the healthcare provider that’s treating you. In this agreement, you will agree to pay back what you owe once you receive an award. Keep in mind that if you don’t receive an award, you will still be on the hook for expenses. Most healthcare providers are flexible, but you may run into some issues if your case is taking a long time to reach a resolution. If you can pay for medical bills up front, you will be reimbursed later if you win the case.
Since New York is a no-fault state, you’ll be getting reimbursed by your auto insurance provider rather than the at-fault party who caused the car accident.
Do Damages Cover Medical Bills?
If you’re awarded damages, you can use a portion of these to offset medical costs. The total damages figure will be based on medical bills racked up as well as other expenses. Most lawyers will wait until you’ve fully recovered from your injuries to pursue damages; this way there’s very little chance of medical problems popping up later that you could’ve got compensated for. It pays both you and your car accident lawyer to patiently wait so you can get the maximum compensation possible.
How Is My Health Insurance Provider Involved Following a Car Accident?
In New York, every individual is mandated to have health insurance. Therefore, if you get in a car accident, your health insurance provider will be involved. They will offset some of the expenses you rack up, but only up to the policy limit. Beyond that point, you’ll have to pay for expenses related to the accident out of pocket. And if your insurance does pay, and you receive an award later on, they will expect to be reimbursed for what they paid.
Will a Lawyer Make Sure I’m Properly Compensated for All My Medical Bills?
Yes! One of the reasons why having a car accident lawyer on your side after a car accident is because they’ll be able to accurately calculate just how much you owe in medical bills and then demand appropriate compensation from your insurance provider. Of course, just because your lawyer demands a certain total compensation figure doesn’t mean this is the figure you’re going to get. If you’re partially at fault for the accident, you will be compensated in accordance with how much fault you bear.
We understand that hiring a car accident lawyer in East New York can be tough stuff, especially nowadays. This is why we created a one-stop solution for those seeking first-rate legal representation. Call 1-800-HURT-511 to be connected with best-in-class lawyers who’ve secured over $1 billion for their clients. They’ll be able to tap into all the resources you’ll need to reach a favorable outcome.
Call 1-800-HURT-511 now, as time may be running out!
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