How Will My Medical Bills Get Paid After a Car Accident?
Being involved in a car accident is overwhelming enough on its own, but many people quickly face another frightening reality: mounting medical bills that can far surpass what their own health insurance covers. Emergency room visits, follow-up treatments, specialist appointments, surgeries, and physical therapy all add up quickly, and it’s common to worry about copays, deductibles, and other out-of-pocket costs when you’re supposed to be focused on healing. Our Roseville accident attorney believes you shouldn’t have to worry about all that while trying to recover from an injury.
With medical expenses often becoming a leading cause of stress after a serious crash, understanding your rights and options for payment is essential. Below are some of the ways you could get your medical bills paid for after an accident:
Medical Payments Coverage (MedPay)
MedPay is an optional benefit you can add to your car insurance policy in California. It provides direct coverage for medical costs for you and your passengers, no matter who caused the crash. MedPay kicks in right away, so you can use it to pay for copays, deductibles, ambulance rides, and similar out-of-pocket costs. It often covers costs that your health insurance won’t cover, either, like transportation to medical appointments. This can offer fast relief when you’re facing large bills before insurance decides who is formally responsible
Filing a Claim With the Other Driver’s Insurance
If another driver is at fault for your injuries, you have the right to file a Roseville injury claim against their insurance policy. This can cover the full range of your medical expenses, as well as additional losses like lost wages or pain and suffering. It may take weeks or months to resolve these claims as insurers dispute fault, review records, and negotiate a settlement. While payment is not immediate, the at-fault driver’s insurance ultimately will cover these costs.
Underinsured Motorist Coverage
If the other driver lacks insurance or has too little to cover your medical bills, you may be protected by your own uninsured (UM) or underinsured (UIM) motorist coverage. These are also optional add-ons to your auto policy, and they step in to pay expenses up to your policy limits if the responsible driver can’t. Making a claim under your own UM/UIM often speeds up your ability to get paid, especially in hit-and-run cases or when you run into uncooperative, underinsured drivers.
Filing a Lawsuit Against the At-Fault Driver
If the insurance claim doesn’t cover your medical bills—due to either low policy limits or a dispute over fault—you have the right to file a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault driver. Suing adds pressure if the insurer won’t settle fairly and also makes it possible to pursue more damages. Often, simply hiring a lawyer and threatening suit motivates fair offers, so always speak with legal help right away.
Workers’ Compensation (If Injured While on the Job)
If you’re hurt in an auto accident while driving for work, even if someone else was to blame, you likely qualify for workers’ compensation benefits. Workers’ comp can pay for emergency medical care, ongoing treatment, rehabilitation, and some portion of lost wages, with no need to prove anyone else caused your crash.
Liens From Medical Providers or Insurers
Many hospitals, doctors, or health insurers will treat you on the understanding that they’ll be paid back once your settlement or award comes through, a situation called a medical lien. They won’t require immediate cash up front, but they do have legal rights to a portion of any personal injury settlement. While liens make care possible for injured accident victims unable to pay, they need to be managed carefully, which your lawyer can help you with.
Understanding all these payment routes makes it easier for you to make sure you get the compensation you need to deal with your medical expenses. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact us to schedule a free consultation to discuss your case.