The simple answer is that it is the responsibility of the negligent driver to pay for medical bills caused by a car accident. That being said, there are generally three different avenues that injured victims can take in order to pay their medical bills. In the first of two blogs on the topic, we will be addressing the option of an injured victim’s health insurance and the option of the negligent driver’s insurance paying for medical bills after an auto accident.
Avenue #1: Health Insurance
Many people think that there own health insurance is not applicable if they’ve been injured in a car accident, but this simply isn’t true. In fact, using health insurance is the first line of defense to pay for medical bills in many cases. That’s because your own health insurance is usually the fastest way to get the best possible care.
However, depending on your unique situation, the law could dictate that the health insurance does not have to pay any of the medical bills that resulted from your accident. In these cases, your health insurance may pay your medical bills upfront, then have a right to partial or full reimbursement from the negligent driver’s insurance company. However, this rarely happens and health insurance companies don’t generally get off the hook for paying medical bills. After all, you pay premiums to your health insurance company in order to make certain that when you are sick or injured, you get the medical treatment you need.
Avenue #2: Negligent Driver’s Insurance
The actual driver rarely pays the bills; rather, it’s their insurance company who actually writes the check – which is why we have insurance in the first place. Insurance companies are able to pay out more than individuals and the individual won’t go bankrupt paying for medical bills necessitated by an accident they caused. That being said, if the insurance company doesn’t cover the full amount of the medical bills, the injured person has the right to pursue additional compensation from the actual negligent driver.
It’s not difficult to see from the information above that personal injury matters can get quite intricate – especially when you consider that each case varies to a great degree. This is why you may want to consider contacting an experienced car accident lawyer if you or a loved one has been seriously injured in an auto accident. A skilled personal injury attorney knows the law inside and out and can help ensure that you are fully compensated for your injuries and pain and suffering.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Breyer Law Offices to schedule a free, no obligation consultation. We’ll give you honest, upfront answers about your case and how you can receive full compensation for your medical treatment. Don’t wait. Call us today. Check back tomorrow for part two of this blog.