How Are Medical Bills Paid After a St. Louis Car Wreck?

If you have been involved in a St. Louis car wreck and the medical bills are piling up, you may naturally be wondering how they are going to be paid.

Unless you are fortunate, a car wreck may require you to visit the emergency room or spend time in a long-term care facility. This can leave you with mounting medical expenses. And you may find yourself wondering: Who’s going to pay your medical bills? Let’s consider the answer to this question and how you can protect your legal rights after an accident.  

Who Pays Medical Bills After a Car Accident?

Like most people, you probably think that since another driver’s negligence caused your injuries, their insurer ought to pay your medical bills. While this may technically be true, the at-fault driver is by no means required to pay your medical care bills as they come in. Their insurer generally won’t compensate you until you have made a full recovery and been discharged by your treating doctor. 

So who pays? Well, the medical bills for all the treatment you receive after a car wreck are generally your responsibility. In other words, the medical expenses are generally your obligation.

Your Options for Covering the Cost of Medical Treatment

PIP Insurance Cover 

If you have PIP insurance cover, you can use it to cover all or part of your medical expenses. However, it’s worth noting that PIP only provides coverage for a fixed amount of medical expenses following a car crash, which means you’ll need to consider other sources if your bills exceed your PIP cover limit. 

Medicaid

If your cost of care exceeds your PIP cover limit, you may use your Medicaid to pay your medical bills. 

After PIP and Medicaid benefits have been exhausted, you may use your private health insurance to cover your bills. However, if you don’t have personal health insurance coverage, you will likely have to make out-of-pocket payments. Alternatively, you can shelve any remaining medical balances until your claim is settled, but that can ruin your credit rating.

Requesting a Reimbursement of Your Medical Costs

After making a full recovery, you should generally file your injury claim against the at-fault driver’s insurer, requesting reimbursement of all your medical expenses.

How Much Can I Get for My Car Accident Settlement?

There is no set maximum or minimum settlement amount for injury settlements. Instead, the compensation payout you’ll receive will vary depending on multiple factors, including: 

• The type or severity of your injuries. The more severe your injuries, the higher your compensation will possibly be.
• The amount you may have incurred in medical expenses as a result of the accident .
• Whether the other party has admitted fault for the accident and the resulting damages.
• If the accident involved permanent injuries or death.

Can I Reject a Settlement Offer I Think Is Too Low?

Yes! You can. 

Do not accept a settlement if you have even the slightest suspicion that the insurance company is lowballing you. The moment you accept and sign the release document, there is generally no turning back. 

St. Louis Car Accident Lawyers

Don’t face the insurance company alone! Speak with an experienced St. Louis car wreck attorney as soon as possible after an accident to ensure your legal rights are protected. Call The Hoffmann Law Firm 24/7 for a free case evaluation.