If you have been involved in an auto accident, you need to make getting the proper medical care a priority. You might be concerned about your mounting bills, but insurance will help cover the medical expenses.
Which kind of insurance pays what and when coverage kicks in depends on several things. In many cases, state laws might affect which coverage covers which expense. Let’s get a rundown on how health insurance and auto insurance come into play with your medical costs.
Bodily Injury Liability Coverage
If you are at-fault for a crash, bodily injury liability coverage will cover the drivers and passengers in the other vehicle or vehicles and not you or your passengers. A third-party, which is a driver or passenger of another vehicle, can claim different things as bodily injury, including medical expenses – hospital bills, follow-up visits, prescriptions, and any other medical or health care.
If the injured party couldn’t work, they can file a claim for their lost income. That amount is based on the time they can’t work because of the injuries and your state laws. The one way that bodily injury liability will help you is by covering your legal defense if the others injured in the crash sue you.
Medical Payments Coverage
Medical payments are an additional coverage that you can purchase for your insurance policy. It is required in some states and optional in others.
This is coverage for a set amount that is based on your policy, usually it ranges from $1,000 to $50,000, that you opt for. It will pay that set amount as a maximum toward the medical costs for you and any passengers in your vehicle for treating injuries caused by the crash.
Health Insurance Coverage
If your medical expenses exceed the limits of the other driver’s bodily injury liability coverage or your medical payments coverage, then usually your health insurance will kick in and pay toward your medical costs. Since the injuries were sustained in a car crash, you might have to provide proof that the other insurance has paid all it will or that you don’t have medical payments coverage to cover the cost of your medical bills relating to the accident.
Consult With a Personal Injury Lawyer
If you have been involved in an auto accident, you should speak with a personal injury attorney. A lawyer will review the details of your accident and determine which insurance is responsible for which bills.
Personal injury lawyers work on a contingency basis, so will not have to pay your attorney until you are compensated for your damages through a settlement or a judgment.
You want an attorney who is licensed in your state, so he or she is familiar with both state and local laws. Complete the Free Case Evaluation Form on this page to have the details of your case reviewed by a lawyer in your local area.
