Do Car Insurance Companies Pay Medical Bills Directly?

A car accident can leave you or a loved one with serious injuries and significant medical bills. When you seek compensation after your accident, your medical bills are typically part of your compensation packet. In short, the at-fault party and their insurance company pay your medical bills. Whether or not insurance companies pay those medical bills directly depends on a variety of factors.

Concern over the costs of your treatment should not prevent you from getting all the immediate and ongoing care your injuries require. That does not prevent concern over who will cover the costs of your needed care. Your lawyer will clarify your right to recover damages and the at-fault party’s responsibilities.

Recovering Car Accident-Related Medical Expenses

If you were injured in a car accident caused by the other driver’s negligence, you can file a personal injury insurance claim or lawsuit. If a personal injury lawyer in your area represents you, they will:

• Document the four required legal elements of negligence
• Explain the laws of your state that let you recover damages
• Determine the monetary value of your ongoing medical bills
• Prove the at-fault driver’s negligence and financial liability

Your lawyer will fight to resolve your case with an insurance settlement rather than a trial. Once a settlement is obtained, your lawyer will receive a check from the insurance company. They will also distribute those funds after explaining the distributions to you.

Who Gets the Insurance Check for My Medical Bills?

Your lawyer distributes recovered dynamics after a car accident. They will deduct their agreed-upon fee—typically a percentage of your recovered damages—first. From the remainder, you will receive your compensation.

Others who might receive compensation can include the shop that repaired your damaged car, a dealership where you purchase a new car, and the medical professionals and facilities where you received treatment. Letting your lawyer handle this for you can mean everyone is compensated in a timely manner and you do not have to worry about making these payments on your own.

What Would Make the At-Fault Driver’s Insurance Refuse to Pay My Medical Bills?

The medical and other damages you can recover from the at-fault driver have a time limit. Your state, like all states in the U.S., will determine how much time you have to file a lawsuit. If the filing deadline expires, you will not be able to file your lawsuit at all. 

Even if your lawsuit is filed after the expiration date, the at-fault driver’s representatives will request its immediate dismissal. This request is likely to be granted, and you will have no further legal avenue that compels the at-fault driver or their insurer to cover your medical bills or any other accident-related expenses and losses.

The filing deadline can also fluctuate based on a number of factors. A local attorney can help you meet the appropriate filing deadline. 

Understand What Medical Care the Insurance Company Will Cover

According to the Insurance Information Institute (III) guidelines, the bodily injury portion of the at-fault driver’s insurance policy will cover the medical expenses of anyone injured by their vehicle. 

The at-fault party’s auto insurance will cover the costs of all the medical care required for you to reach maximum medical improvement after the accident, including:

• Emergency room fees
• Hospital admissions
• Follow-up care
• Clinic visits
• Rehabilitation and therapy
• Prescribed and OTC drugs
• Surgical procedures

Medical care also includes in-home medical support, if required. It also includes any assistive medical devices like canes, wheelchairs, slings, and neck braces. 

What if My Own Insurance Policy Includes Personal Injury Protection Coverage?

If you have personal injury protection (PIP) insurance, it will cover many of your immediate post-accident costs. This coverage is not available in all states. If it is available in your state, your lawyer will explain how you can tap into its benefits. 

In Florida, PIP covers:

• A portion of your medical bills
• A portion of your lost income
• Funeral expenses up to $5,000

Coverage amounts can vary, so the best way to understand how PIP insurance can cover your medical bills is to review your own policy with your lawyer. They will work hard to help you avoid financial hardship due to another driver’s negligence.

Additional Recoverable Damages After a Car Accident

Medical bills are only one part of the compensation your lawyer will demand from the negligent driver. Additional economic and non-economic damages include:

• Loss of income
• Future lost earnings
• Property damage
• Property destruction
• Diminished property value
• Disability and disfigurement
• Physical pain and suffering
• Mental and emotional anguish

If the accident significantly changed your lifestyle, you could also recover damages for your diminished quality of life.

Do I Really Need a Lawyer to Recover Damages After the Accident?

You could try to work with the at-fault driver’s insurance company on your own. When a lawyer represents you, they will take on the insurer and demand fair and appropriate compensation for you. 

Your car accident lawyer will collect medical bills and prognosis reports for all the medical care you have or will require. They will also:

• Handle the complex negotiation process
• Fight for the settlement you need and deserve
• Go to court if a settlement is not forthcoming
• Handle all case-related communication
• Consult medical and other expert witnesses

Your lawyer will also provide you with ongoing updates on any advances or developments in your case, which can prevent you from wondering about its progress.

Get Help With Your Car Accident Medical Bills

If you were injured in a car accident, the at-fault driver can be held accountable for the costs of your medical expenses. They will compensate you through your attorney rather than pay your medical bills directly.

We offer more than a free consultation. We also offer a free strategy session. Learn more about how we can help you recover medical and other expenses after a car accident by calling our team at Chalik & Chalik Injury Lawyers today.