Who Pays the Accident Bills?

Car accident drawing entitled, "me"

Today’s topic will be about medical bills getting paid after a car accident.  In this subject, we will discuss your health insurance or lack of health insurance, medical payment insurance, who was at fault for the accident, the time and extent that bills will be paid, paying back others who paid your bills, attorney’s liens and other methods of  bill payments.  We have a fair amount to cover, but this is of high importance, so let’s get started.

The bad news first.  Your health insurance might not help you cover the bills.  That is sad, but it is the truth.  If they do cover the bills, we will discuss repaying them later in this article.  I have found that work provided health insurance will cover the bills and ask to be repaid after settlement.  Self-purchased health insurance many times will refuse to participate at all.  They will refuse all payments to you.  So, what do you do?  This is exactly like not having health insurance at all.

Medical Payment Insurance or PIP & Accident Bills

Your own car insurance policy may provide you with some relief.  Go and track down your policy declaration page.  It is the one with all of the numbers like how much they will pay if you hit someone and other types of dollar amounts.  Find that one.  I will patiently wait…

Now, look at  all of the different coverages you have.  Look for medical payment insurance or PIP or something similar to that.  If you do, it will likely be in the amounts of $1,000 to $5,000.  I have seen much higher, but when client’s have medical payment insurance it generally falls within that range.

Who Pays the Medical Bills?  

This is one of the first questions that comes out of the mouths of my clients on the first meeting.  As a personal injury lawyer, that is a good question.  As you now know bills from the  ambulance, doctors, hospitals, therapy, MRI, CAT scans, orthopedic doctors, surgeons and people you didn’t even know existed start arriving in the mail.   So, is the insurance company going to pay the bills?

If their insured was the one that caused the accident, then the answer is yes.  That is a full sentence, so let me unpack that.  If everyone agrees they were the cause, they are going to pay.  If the insurance company thinks you were to blame for the accident, do you really think they are going to pay or let it play out?

When Are the Accident Bills Paid?

So, assuming that we all agree that their insured was at fault, the next question is when are they going to pay.  The answer is that it depends.  If we like their offer after negotiating with them, then the bills will be paid at the time of settlement, usually.  If we do not like their offers after negotiations and mediation, then the bills will paid after trial, assuming a victory.

No Insurance Means No Doctors, Right?

The better question is can you find a lawyer that can get a doctor to give you the proper medical attention before the case is settled? Call my office to discuss this.  If you have a case, then I have no problems signing an attorney’s lien letter with the medical provider.

If you have been injured in a car accident, contact our office.  The insurance company may want you to think they are going to pay your bills, and will tell you so.  But the truth is, they will attempt not pay them.  Further, they will get you to close sign away your rights for future treatment and medical costs.

Georgia Car Accident Lawyer for Atlanta, Sandy Springs, Decatur, Avondale Estates, Buckhead, Kirkwood, East Atlanta, Midtown Atlanta, Roswell, Marietta, Dunwood, Duluth, Alpharetta, Ponce De Leon, Stockbridge, McDonough, Jonesboro, Jackson, Griffin, Forsyth, Locust Grove and Monticello, Georgia.

If you have a question, ask it below in the comments.  I answer all comments.  Thank you for taking the time to read this article about medical bills and accident bills.

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