How to Get Medical Bills Paid After a Car Accident
Were you injured in a car accident caused by someone else’s negligence? If so, you might be aware that you could hold the at-fault party accountable for the harm you’ve suffered and that you would likely be eligible to recover compensation for your medical bills and other expenses associated with the crash.
Unfortunately, if you’re recovering from an injury accident, the medical bills might have already started to pile up. What happens if you were injured and need to get your medical expenses paid right now and can’t wait until your injury claim is resolved?
What to Do if You’re Accumulating Medical Bills After an Accident
Suppose you don’t have medical insurance and can’t afford to pay out-of-pocket expenses. In that case, the first step you should take is to hire an experienced personal injury lawyer to represent you. Your lawyer could advise you of your rights and options for paying your bills as they work to recover fair compensation from the party that harmed you.
Fortunately, many medical providers understand the challenges of recovering compensation after a car accident that was not your fault. They might be willing to place your account on hold with a signed agreement called a lien.
This is basically like a loan. They agree to cover your medical costs as long as you promise to pay them back with your insurance settlement. That means you won’t have to pay out of pocket for your treatment, and they won’t send your bills to collections during your ongoing claim.
Options for Paying Your Medical Bills
There are multiple options for paying the medical bills you receive following a car crash. If liability is clear and you settle your claim quickly, your doctors can send your bills directly to the at-fault driver’s auto insurance carrier for payment.
Liability coverage is a legal requirement in Virginia. Every motorist must purchase a policy with minimum limits for bodily injury. You won’t have to worry about paying these bills yourself as long as your injury resulted from the accident.
Another option is to turn to your own health insurance policy for coverage. Your physicians could inform them of your claim, and you would have to sign a document agreeing that a portion of the auto insurance settlement you receive will reimburse them for any costs related to your necessary treatment.
If you don’t have health insurance and the at-fault driver doesn’t have auto insurance, you could file a claim with your auto insurance carrier. Many people opt for Medical Payments (MedPay) coverage when purchasing auto insurance. This pays upfront for all reasonable and necessary medical care up to the limit listed on the policy. You could use MedPay to pay for your hospital bills, rehabilitation costs, and other services required following the accident.
Uninsured motorist (UM) coverage is another option when filing a claim with your auto insurance company. It’s available in situations where the driver responsible for someone’s injuries doesn’t carry liability coverage. If you have UM on your policy, you could receive compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and other financial losses suffered from the crash.
How a Lawyer Could Help
It’s crucial to hire an experienced Fairfax personal injury attorney if you’ve been severely injured in an accident. Cases like this are complex and require extensive knowledge of state laws. Your lawyer could review all available insurance policies to determine the coverage amounts and whether they could compensate for your medical care and other costs.
They can also file your insurance claim on your behalf and negotiate for a settlement they believe is fair. If the insurance company refuses to settle, they can proceed with a lawsuit and take your case to court.
Contact Us
If you were involved in a car accident due to someone else’s negligence, you have the right to seek compensation for your medical bills and other losses. Contact the Fairfax car accident lawyers at Whitestone Young, P.C., and get help from a knowledgeable member of our team.
Call us at (703) 591-0200 or reach out to us online to schedule a 100% free and confidential case evaluation.