You might wonder how to pay your bills for medical treatment after sustaining injuries in an auto accident. A non-fatal injury can result in expensive medical expenses, with the average cost reaching $6,620 for emergency room care. You might need to rely on your health insurance policy first to cover your medical care and prevent you from getting into debt.
However, you can take legal action against the at-fault driver by filing a claim with their automobile insurance company. A personal injury attorney at the law firm of Nessler & Associates can guide you through the steps to file a claim and help you win compensation for your medical bills after an Illinois car accident.
Personal Health Insurance Company
If you have health insurance, the insurer can pay your medical bills related to your injuries. You may need to rely on your healthcare coverage when going to the emergency room.
However, in a severe car accident, your medical bills may increase, and your health insurance policy may not cover the entire cost of your expenses. Certain medical services and medications require you to pay deductibles and copays. Some insurance companies may distinguish between in-network and out-of-network providers, so out-of-network visits may require you to pay out-of-pocket.
Also, if you receive a settlement from the other driver’s insurance company, your healthcare insurer expects reimbursement for the full amount billed. An attorney can help you gather all the medical expenses incurred from the accident, including:
- Emergency transportation and room visits
- Hospitalizations
- Medications
- Physical therapy sessions
- Specialist referrals
- Medical imaging, including X-rays, CAT scans, and MRIs
Auto Insurance Policies for Physical Injuries
Your auto insurance policy may include uninsured motorist coverage and medical payments. These coverages can help pay for your medical costs.
Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage
You can use uninsured motorist (UM) coverage to pay for your medical bills if an uninsured driver caused your accident. Under Illinois’ current uninsured motorist law, the minimum limit for bodily injury per person is $25,000 and for accidents is $50,000.
If the at-fault driver’s liability limits are lower than your UIM limits, underinsured motorist (UM) bodily injury insurance pays the difference. This type of insurance provides protection when another driver causes an accident and does not have enough liability coverage to compensate you for your losses entirely.
Medical Payments Coverage
Medical payment coverage provides financial compensation for medical expenses incurred after an accident. This coverage applies regardless of fault. You can review your auto insurance policy with your lawyer to see if this medical payment coverage is available to help cover your bills.
Other Driver’s Auto Insurance Coverage
The other driver may be responsible for covering your medical bills. Illinois law requires drivers to carry the following coverage for physical injuries:
- $25,000 per person for one accident
- $50,000 total per accident
Your attorney can investigate the accident to determine whether there is strong evidence to identify the percentage of liability and compensation. Under Illinois’s modified comparative negligence law, drivers can receive compensation, but their share of fault reduces the amount. An accident victim cannot receive compensation if their percentage of liability in the accident exceeds 50%.
An experienced auto accident attorney can help you gather evidence for your auto insurance claim against the other driver with eyewitness statements, surveillance footage, and testimony from an expert accident reconstructionist. They can also calculate your total medical expenses, alongside your lost wages and property damage, to negotiate a fair settlement from all parties involved.
Personal Injury Lawsuit
You may need more coverage if your injuries exceed the other driver’s insurance policy limits and your UIM limits. For example, a reckless driver may have the minimum coverage to cover bodily harm, but your medical bills add up to $100,000.
You may need to file a personal injury lawsuit against the other driver if your attorney finds they are at fault for the incident. They can also handle negotiations on your behalf with the insurance company and take your case to court, where they can argue for your right to compensation after an accident.
Get Your Car Accident Medical Bills Paid with Help from Nessler & Associates
An experienced car accident attorney at Nessler & Associates can offer legal advice for using other sources to cover your medical bills for your injuries. We can help you pursue at-fault coverage from the other driver’s insurance coverage to help you with your expenses.
Our attorneys work on a contingency basis. Our fee structure will mean that you will only have to pay us once we win your case, so you won’t have to worry about paying out of pocket for legal assistance.
Contact our law firm today at (800) 727-8010 for a free case evaluation, and let us help you understand your legal options for paying your medical bills after a car accident.