Who pays your medical bills after a car accident depends on the circumstances. Possible options might include the other driver’s insurance company, your Med Pay coverage, your health insurance, or the proceeds from a personal injury claim. An experienced Denver car accident attorney from Dulin McQuinn Young can help you explore your legal options.
The Other Driver’s Insurance Company
Some insurance companies promise to pay the victim’s medical bills as they are incurred, but they often don’t keep this promise. Also, paying medical bills alone is not sufficient compensation for the harm that their insured has caused.
While the other driver’s insurance company may ultimately pay for these expenses through the proceeds of a personal injury claim, you should not trust them to take care of these expenses. If these bills do not get paid or arrangements are not made to pay them later, your credit can suffer as a result. The bills can get sent to collections, and you could be sued.
Medical Payments Coverage
Colorado insurance providers offer Medical Payments Coverage or Med Pay to drivers. This is an optional form of insurance that is part of your own auto insurance, if you chose to purchase it. Med Pay covers medical expenses incurred as part of an auto accident, specifically for “medically necessary and accident-related trauma care or medical care.” Most Med Pay policies in Colorado have a maximum of $5,000, but some policies have higher limits.
Colorado law requires insurers to offer this type of insurance, so you should have it unless you rejected it in writing. A car accident lawyer can review your insurance policy to determine if you have this type of insurance and can use it to cover part of your medical bills in the interim.
Health Insurance
You could have health insurance that could help pay your medical bills while you wait for the proceeds of a personal injury claim. While your insurance might pay for your costs initially, it might be entitled to reimbursement if you later secure compensation through a personal injury claim or lawsuit.
Personal Injury Claim
Colorado is an at-fault state for car accidents, so the at-fault driver is ultimately responsible for paying for the damages they cause. In addition to covering your medical bills, this could also include paying for:
- Ongoing medical treatment
- Future medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning capacity
- Costs to repair or replace your vehicle
- Pain and suffering
An experienced personal injury attorney in Denver can review your situation and determine if you have a viable claim against the other driver.
Other Options
You may have other options, depending on the situation, such as:
- Filing a workers’ compensation claim if you were injured while working
- Filing a claim against the at-fault driver’s employer if they were working at the time of the accident
- Filing a claim with your uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage if you were injured by a driver with no or insufficient insurance
- Determining if another party is responsible for your injuries and pursuing a claim against their insurance provider
Learn More About Your Legal Options During a Free Consultation
If you were injured in a car accident and are concerned about how to pay your medical bills, Dulin McQuinn Young can help. We can discuss your situation during a free, no-obligation consultation. Contact us today to get started.