Covering Medical Care After a Car Accident – Who Pays the Bill?
After a car accident, the first thing on your mind is the safety of those involved, including yourself. If you are hurt, the furthest thing from your mind is determining how you will afford to pay for the cost of your medical treatment. In some cases, your medical care may be necessary for an extended period of time, and once you begin to recover you will likely to have questions about how your medical treatment will be paid. There are several ways these bills may be paid, and here we are going to discuss two of them.
Missouri is a Fault Vehicle Insurance State
Missouri is like most states, in that it uses a “fault” insurance system when handling financial responsibility for injuries and losses due to a car accident. As such, an injured driver, passenger, or pedestrian may file a claim with his or her own insurance company, or may file a third-party claim with the “at-fault” driver’s insurer, and/or may even file a lawsuit against the at-fault in court.
Health Insurance
If you have health insurance, your provider will be one of the first to begin paying off your medical expenses. Your health insurance may pay the difference between the total amount of your medical bills and the amount the “at-fault’s” insurance company will cover, and may cover the cost of your medical bills on an ongoing basis. They are often billed a fraction of what you would be charged, thus, if they use their right to demand compensation from you if you receive money from the defendant, it is beneficial to have an experienced attorney who can help work out a deal with the insurance company.
Finding the Right Attorney
At Hollingshead, Paulus, and Eccher, we have the knowledge, experience, and ability to aggressively fight for your interests. If you have been in an accident, we will assist you every step of the way in handling the claim, dealing with both the vehicle insurance companies and health insurance companies, and in taking the next steps after dealing with such a traumatic event. Do not hesitate to contact us today. We are here to help you.
