Personal Injury Lawyer
After an accident that wasn’t your fault, you might be wondering who will pay your medical bills. If you file a personal injury claim against the at-fault driver, will your medical expenses come out of that settlement? There are a lot of variables, but generally, you will have to pay your medical bills out of your personal injury settlement.
How Do Medical Bills Get Paid After an Accident?
As a general rule, you are responsible for payment of your medical bills, whether or not you were in an accident or not. While it is appropriate for the person who injured you to be responsible for your medical bills, if the other person’s insurance company does not accept liability, you could be on the hook.
Even if the negligent person is found to be responsible for your medical bills, those bills are going to come to you. The law does not require the negligent party to pay those bills as they come in. You may be required to file with your health insurance and pay the co-pays while you’re waiting for the settlement.
What If You Have Health Insurance?
If you have health insurance, don’t think that your settlement is all yours. Your insurance company may pay your bills while you’re sorting out the details with the negligent party, but your insurance company will expect to be reimbursed. Your insurance company may even put a lien on the settlement, should one come in. This would be true if your insurer is Medicaid or Medicare, too.
If You Don’t Have Health Insurance
If you’re injured by a negligent party, you will have medical bills that will need to be dealt with. You may have to work out a payment plan with the healthcare providers until the settlement is worked out. If the settlement doesn’t cover all the medical bills, you will most likely be responsible for the overage. This is why you may not want to settle quickly with the insurance company.
The Process Can Take Time
Dealing with the other insurance company after a personal injury case can be daunting. It might take time to reach an agreement that is fair to you and acceptable to the other party. Because you are considered responsible for your medical bills, it’s important to make sure the bills get paid. Talking to an attorney about your situation can help you be at peace with the settlement or decide whether you should go to court.
If you’ve been injured in an accident, discuss your case with a personal injury lawyer who can assess your situation and help you find the best outcome.