Car Accidents and Medical Bills

Car Insurance

First of all everybody needs to have car insurance. The law requires it in all states except for Wisconsin, New Hampshire, and Florida. While these states do not require that you have insurance you will wish you did if you are involved in a car accident because accidents can be very expensive and you can go broke or go into debt very quickly. Different states have different rules regarding car insurance. States such as Minnesota, North Dakota, Michigan, Florida and New York are "No-Fault" insurance states. This means that drivers are covered by their own insurance no matter who is at-fault for an accident. Because of this a Personal Injury Protection (PIP) policy is required in these states to cover medical expenses for drivers regardless of who is at fault for an accident.


Who Is Covered?

Generally speaking, auto insurance covers the person who owns the policy and any trouble they would get into in a car they are driving. It will cover you and your car when you are driving. It generally will cover you and cover the vehicle if you are driving a car that that does not belong to you, but that you have permission to be driving. This may include a rental car or a car you borrow from a friend or family member. If you are riding in a vehicle that is in an accident you should be covered by your own insurance in a no-fault state. If you are in an at fault state then the at-fault driver's insurance will be responsible. If you are a passenger in a vehicle involved in an accident then you might also be covered by the insurance of the person whose vehicle you were riding in. If you live in an at-fault state when an accident occurs the insurance for the at-fault driver is responsible for covering costs to both drivers. If you want to add another person to your insurance policy you will have to speak to your insurance company about getting them coverage and your rates will increase.


Keep Track of Medical Bills

You will want to keep track of your medical bills and inform your insurance company as soon as possible. In no-fault states your insurance company is required to pay your medical bills. If your doctor deems a treatment necessary then your insurance has to pay the bill. If insurance companies aren't kept up to date on treatments they may try not to pay for them. Therefore it is very important to keep your insurance company updated on your medical treatment as soon and as thoroughly as possible. An insurance company may dispute your physician and require you visit their doctor to confirm that the treatment is necessary. Based on the examination they may continue or deny further medical coverage. If your insurance company denies you coverage you need to consult a personal injury attorney as soon as possible to make sure that the insurance company pays your medical costs and that you aren't stuck paying them out of pocket.

Hiring a Personal Injury Attorney

Following an auto accident insurance companies may hesitate to pay medical costs, if you are denied coverage and you live an a no-fault insurance state, or have a policy with PIP, you need to contact an experienced personal injury attorney as early as you can. They will deal with the insurance companies, medical professionals, hospitals and billing agencies to help defer payments until a settlement is reached with the insurance company. This assures that you will have your medical bills covered and that you won't be penalized for late payments. If you have been in a car accident and have medical bills that need to be covered you should hire an experienced and dedicated personal injury attorney.