Car accidents are extremely overwhelming. The sheer shock of the accident itself can send you in frenzy. You may be feeling anxious. This can last for a couple of weeks or more as you start the recovery process. Being injured in a car accident usually means you are worried about the medical bills. You are not alone. Feeling overwhelmed is a common emotion after a car accident. But thankfully you have options. Paying medical bills after a car accident doesn’t have to be overwhelming.
Seek Medical Treatment Immediately
Whereas you may feel overwhelmed with the idea of the bills, you still must seek treatment immediately. You have options on how to pay for your medical bills. Don’t let fear of paying stop you from receiving medical care. California is an at-fault state. Meaning the person that is at-fault in a car accident will be held responsible.
Seeking Compensation For Your Car Accident Injuries
Seeking compensation for medical bills is pretty straight forward. First, you will prove fault of the accident. Next, you prove that you are entitled to the compensation. This is when you will need to determine and negotiate the amount of funds you are entitled to. Hiring a Car Accident Attorney is the best way to get the compensation you deserve. An excellent lawyer, like the ones at Vititoe Law Group, can help make sure you are getting maximum compensation. Several costs and considerations will factor into the compensation you are seeking.
Following a car accident you can try and recover the following:
- medical bills
- lost wages
- pain and suffering
- property damages
Receiving compensation for your car accident claim can be a drawn out process. Typically, if trying to settle quickly, you will end up with a lower amount you deserve. Car accident claims take 6 months to a year to finalize. Usually during the process you won’t receive any compensation to cover bills. Meanwhile medical bills continue to pile up. Additionally, you may be required to pay these bills as they come. Otherwise you risk late fees, or even worse, being sent to collections.
Paying For Your Medical Bills After a Car Accident and Before Your Settlement
While waiting for a settlement from your car accident, you are usually still responsible for paying bills. But, filing a first-party claim will help fill in the gaps. Typically there is a gap from when bills are due to when your settlement is finalized with the at-fault party’s insurance.
Examples of First-Party Insurance Coverage:
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Your Health Insurance
- If you have health insurance through a private insurance company you should be able to bill these payments to your health insurance to help cover the costs of your medical bills after a car accident.
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MedPay
- Car insurance policies in California carry optional coverage such as MedPay. MedPay is an optional coverage that California insurance companies sell to provide coverage for injuries suffered in a car accident. Typically MedPay has a $5,000 limit. But a consumer has the option to pay a premium for a higher limit.
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Uninsured/Underinsured auto coverage
- Filing an uninsured claim is also a possibility. Uninsured coverage is used when you are injured in an accident with an uninsured driver in California. Uninsured coverage may cover your losses up to the policy limit. However, it’s possible your insurance company will deny uninsured coverage. A California car accident lawyer who is experienced in these kind of claims can negotiate an uninsured claim with your insurance company. They help recover the largest amount of compensation possible.
Paying for medical bills after a car accident in California is complicated. It is likely your medical bills are due before your settlement. Occasionally the other party or insurance company may have already paid these bills on your behalf. Every settlement and the terms of the settlement are different. Regardless your settlement should cover all outstanding medical bills.
Consult With A Westlake Village Car Accident Attorney
Vititoe Law Group is a nationally recognized Law Firm, founded by James W. Vititoe, a Westlake Village Personal Injury Lawyer.
Over the past 30 years award winning attorney James W. Vititoe and his team of lawyers have been involved in cases resulting in settlements of over $1 Billion dollars.
Contact us today for a free consultation.
