Dealing with Medical Expenses After a Crash

Car accidents often result in serious, sometimes fatal, injuries for victims. When negligent drivers cause accidents, victims are left with exorbitant medical costs and critical injuries. But it’s important for victims to be cognizant of the next steps after a car crash, especially when it comes to medical bills.

You will not be able to get insurance compensation until you have closed your claim with your company. So, you must figure out how to pay those hefty medical bills while you are waiting for your lawyer to obtain the settlement you need and deserve.

If you’ve sustained injuries in a car accident in Arizona, contact the auto accident attorneys at ELG. Our team of car accident lawyers is here to help you cope with the aftermath of your accident.

Medical Expenses After a Car Crash in Arizona

If you have health insurance available, you can submit your medical bills to your insurance provider for payment. The health provider will then submit the bill to your health insurance provider while requiring you to pay any necessary copays.

You may also be required to meet a deductible before you are able to get the insurance carrier to cover expenses. For example, you might be responsible for the first $5,000, and then the insurance carrier covers the excess (depending on your insurance contract). The payments the insurance carrier provides on your behalf and the services it pays for will depend on the terms of your insurance policy or health plan.

Private health insurers will usually have subrogation rights that allow them to claim reimbursement. Insurance may initially cover the bill, but if you recover money from the defendant, your provider may require repayment. At that point, the medical provider can demand repayment for all or part of what you paid on its behalf.

Coverage for Medical Payments

Many insured drivers have medical payments coverage or med-pay. This coverage provides for payment of medical expenses up to your policy limit. This coverage is available regardless of who was at fault for the accident. These provisions also typically contain subrogation rights.

Some medical providers will agree to provide services if they will later be paid out of a settlement. This process is particularly helpful if you do not have other forms of medical insurance to pay the expenses.

However, you should discuss the possibility of entering into a lien agreement. It’s important to understand any negative repercussions before you agree to a lien arrangement.

At-Fault Driver Coverage for Medical Payments

Arizona is an at-fault insurance state, meaning that the party at fault for the accident is responsible for paying the damages that they cause. Typically, authorities determine accident fault by seeing which driver violated traffic laws or acted in a careless manner. As such, if the other driver was at fault for the accident, you have the right to file a claim.

However, it is not uncommon for the insurance company to deny fault. They may also claim that you were partially at fault for the accident. Comparative fault in Arizona is the approach used in cases in which both parties were at fault for the accident.

Under this system, authorities assign fault to share between the parties. As a result, your award could be reduced proportionately to your percentage of fault. Additionally, the insurance carrier may try to challenge the reasonable value of the medical services you received.

Car Accident Attorney in Phoenix

Even the best drivers can’t always avoid car accidents. If you’re injured or your vehicle is damaged in a car accident, contact our Arizona car accident attorneys at ELG. Due to the nature of many car accidents and the negligent actions of the drivers who cause these wrecks, victims must safeguard their legal rights after serious auto accidents in Arizona. Call us at (623) 877-3600 for a free consultation and legal representation from our compassionate, knowledgeable attorneys today.