Petrov Personal Injury Lawyers | March 23, 2023 | Car Accident
One of the common consequences of a car accident is medical bills. As an accident victim, you may be responsible for paying for your medical care. However, if another driver caused your car crash, that driver could be legally liable for your damages, including the cost of medical treatment.
Technically, the at-fault driver’s car insurance company does not pay your medical bills. Instead, your car accident settlement includes an amount to reimburse you for the medical costs you incurred because of the car crash. You are responsible for paying the medical providers until you settle your case.
How Do I Pay My Bills After a Vista Car Accident?
While you wait for your Vista car accident lawyer to settle your personal injury case, there are a few ways to pay medical bills after a car accident.
Med Pay Insurance Coverage
If you have no-fault insurance, you might receive reimbursement for medical bills from your insurance provider. Because it is no-fault insurance, you can receive benefits regardless of who caused the car accident.
Med Pay coverage is not required in California. However, drivers can purchase this optional insurance coverage as part of their liability insurance policy.
Typically, Med Pay policies cover bills and expenses for services including, but not limited to:
- Doctor’s bills
- Hospital stays
- Emergency room visits
- Ambulance and EMT services
- MRI, CT Scans, and X-rays
- Medical equipment
- Chiropractic care
- Physical therapy
The medical care must be necessary and reasonable to be covered by Med Pay. Furthermore, the terms and conditions of the Med Pay policy dictate the benefits, filing deadlines, and other requirements. Therefore, you must know the terms of your Med Pay policy so that you can follow the requirements exactly to receive benefits.
Health Insurance
Health insurance companies pay medical bills from an accident according to their policy terms. For example, you might have to pay your deductible before your insurance company pays any medical bills. Additionally, you might be required to pay a deductible if your policy requires you to do so.
Medical Liens
Some medical providers accept medical liens following a car accident. The medical lien is a legally enforceable contract between you and the medical provider.
The doctor agrees to provide care without requiring you to pay the bill immediately. However, you agree to pay the outstanding medical bills from the proceeds of your personal injury settlement or judgment. If you do not receive money for your accident claim, you are personally responsible for paying all outstanding medical bills for your care.
Subrogation Claims After a Car Accident in Vista, CA
The Med Pay insurance provider and your health insurance company might have the right to reimbursement for the amounts they paid if you receive a personal injury settlement or judgment. This right prevents you from recovering twice for the same loss. The right to reimbursement is called a subrogation claim.
However, California Med Pay policies are subject to California’s “Made Whole” rule. Therefore, you would have to be “made whole” before paying the car insurance company back for medical bills from the accident. In other words, you are only required to reimburse the Med Pay provider if you receive an amount that compensates you fully for all damages.
Many health insurance policies have a clause stating that the “made whole” rule does not apply to their subrogation rights. The provision is legal in California. Therefore, you might be required to pay back the health insurance company for bills it paid even if you do not receive a settlement that pays you for all damages you incurred.
A skilled Vista personal injury lawyer works to negotiate subrogation claims so that you keep as much money as possible from a car accident claim.
Suing the At-Fault Driver for Damages After a Car Accident in Vista, CA
If the other driver caused your car crash, you could pursue a claim against that driver for the damages caused by the crash. California drivers must have a minimum amount of liability insurance for car accidents. Most car accident cases settle through negotiations with the insurance company.
Damages you can claim for a car accident include medical bills, lost wages, and other economic damages. You can also receive compensation for your non-economic damages, including emotional distress, as well as pain and suffering.
A Vista car accident attorney helps you document your damages to maximize the amount you can recover for a car accident settlement. The attorney also defends you against allegations of contributory fault that could reduce the amount of money your case is worth.
An insurance adjuster might pressure you to accept a settlement offer. However, it is always best to contact an attorney for a free consultation to ensure the settlement offer compensates you for all damages you are entitled to receive for a car accident claim.
Contact the North County Car Accident Lawyers at Petrov Personal Injury Lawyers for Help Today
For more information, please contact the Vista car accident law firm of Petrov Personal Injury Lawyers to schedule a free consultation today.
We serve in North County, CA and its surrounding areas:
Petrov Personal Injury Lawyers – Vista, CA Office
380 S Melrose Dr. Ste. 201
Vista, CA 92081
(619) 344-0360
Petrov Petrov Personal Injury Lawyers – Oceanside, CA Office
702 Civic Center Drive Ste. 105
Oceanside, CA, 92054
(619) 678-1016