Who pays for medical bills after a car crash?

As soon as you noticed the car out of the corner of your eye, you knew that it wasn’t going to stop before hitting you. You had the right of way, and the other driver wasn’t paying attention. You survived the crash, but you had to be hospitalized for days.

After an auto accident, you may not be sure how you’re going to pay for your medical bills. The most important thing to do is to make sure you get treated for your injuries. After that, you can focus on the expenses.

In most cases, the person who is at fault for a crash will be held responsible for the injuries others suffer. The person who causes the crash is financially responsible not only for medical bills but also for repair bills and other losses, like lost wages. Every insurance carrier has maximum liability coverage, so if the person’s insurance won’t cover everything, it’s possible that a victim could have to pursue a lawsuit to get a fair settlement.

If a driver does not have enough insurance or has no insurance, then you can pursue a lawsuit. However, if you can’t collect anything from the other party, you may need to turn to your own insurance coverage. Uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage is an option on most car insurance plans that helps individuals pay for their medical care and damages when hit by another driver.

Medical Payments Coverage is another thing that could help you. This add-on to car insurance plans covers your medical bills and your passengers’ medical bills up to the limit stated on your policy. This may also be helpful while you’re working on a settlement, since your insurance can cover your expenses until it receives money back from the at-fault driver’s insurance company directly.

Source: Rocky Mountain Insurance Information Association, “How Medical Bills Are Paid After an Auto Accident,” accessed March 20, 2018