How to Pay Medical Bills After a Car Accident
When you’re in a car accident the last thing you are thinking about is the medical bills that are going to follow.
The only thing you are thinking about is the accident at the moment and what’s going to happen to me.
Once you have an accident you have a million things running through your mind that you may not be able to make sense of right away.
What you should know though is the first thing you should do is get medical attention immediately after an accident.
Even if you don’t think you are injured you should just go get checked out.
Getting medical attention can only positively affect the outcome of your case.
You may have injuries that you are not aware of that could have lingering consequences and future medical expenses.
But after the accident and immediate medical attention, who pays the bills is inevitable.
Who is responsible, you or the other driver or company.
Can you continue to get the medical treatment you need even after the accident?
The medical system is very confusing even on a regular day without having insurance companies and the courts involved after an accident.
Having an experienced legal team like The Richard Harris Law Firm can be a valuable resource to navigating the medical system after a car accident and making sure you continue to get the medical help you need to make a full recovery.
Common FAQ’s we hear –
Negotiating medical bills after settlement?
How do insurance company pay accident medical bills?
What if my medical bills are more than my settlement?
Why Medical Care Is Important After a Car Accident
Other than reporting the accident to the police and insurance your main focus should always be your well being.
So always seek medical attention, again even if you don’t think you’re injured just go get checked out.
Sometimes you have injuries that you may not be aware of that may not even be physical .
Also you may have internal injuries such as neck, back and spine injuries that can’t be seen.
You may have a concussion or whiplash that can’t be seen or may not show up immediately.
Not seeking medical attention right away can delay the healing process and prolong injuries and may cause you to have future medical bills and expenses.
Any delay in medical attention is a reason for insurance companies to deny or to significantly reduce the amount they would pay for a claim after a car accident.
Getting Medical Treatment if You Don’t Have Medical Insurance
Not having medical insurance is no reason for someone not to have access to medical treatment if needed.
Federal Law provides that everyone is entitled to emergency medical treatment regardless of their ability to pay.
Emergency medical attention after a car accident falls under this federal law.
However, the bills will have to be paid eventually and that can be difficult as they continue to pile up and especially if you’re not working due to the accident.
Hospitals and doctors can bill you directly and you can make a payment plan or get a discount for paying cash but this can still add up.
If you can’t pay your medical bills from a car accident then they will be sent to collections and can ruin your credit and they can even garnish your future wages.
And who knows who is responsible for the medical bills anyway, is it your car insurance company, the other drivers insurance or if you have it your medical insurance?
This can all be very confusing and stressful and you should be focusing on recovery not stressing out about medical bills.
Call The Richard Harris Law Firm today and let us give you a free case review.
Pay no fees Unless We Win Your Case
At The Richard Harris Law firm you pay nothing up front.
We only get paid if we win your case.
Richard Harris will take your case on a contingency basis, that means that we take no retainer or deposit and only get paid if we win.
The Richard Harris Law Firm will handle all aspects of your accident including police reports, witness statements, evidence, insurance companies and medical expenses.
We want you to focus on recovery after the accident and we will handle the rest.
We handle getting immediate medical expenses paid and getting future medical services scheduled and taken care of.
We will only accept the highest settlement amount and will fight for our clients.
Call for a free consultation if you were injured in a car accident in Pahrump, Sparks, Las Vegas, Henderson, Summerlin or Boulder City. We have several offices throughout Nevada to serve you.
Dealing With Insurance Companies After an Accident
Insurance companies are a business and therefore making a profit is the number one priority of any business.
Insurance companies hope that you will never need to use the insurance you pay for, but when you do they will use every avenue to pay as little as possible or deny a claim altogether.
You will be called by an insurance adjuster whose job it is to investigate your claim.
It is at the adjuster’s discretion as to what gets paid and what doesn’t.
So essentially it’s up to the insurance adjuster as to whether or not your medical bills will be paid or if future medical bills will be accepted.
All interactions with anyone from the insurance companies involved in the accident will be recorded and used for any future discussion.
So before you speak with anyone from the insurance company you should always contact an attorney that specializes in car accidents.
Once you hire a personal injury attorney they will speak to the insurance company for you.
The Richard Harris Law Firm have over 40 years of experience and we know how to handle and deal with the insurance companies, so it’s one less thing you need to worry about while you recover.
If you want a 2nd opinion on a current lawsuit you have for an injury here in Nevada then feel free to call us.
How Much is My Car Accident Settlement Worth
Every accident is different, that’s why there is no set price for accidents.
A settlement offer is based on many factors including severity of injuries, pain and suffering, the reason for the accident, loss of work, and property damage.
Below are the main categories that are considered when a settlement offer is made:
Pain and Suffering- This is the compensation based on injuries and the severity of the injuries and the trauma that is created from the accident. This includes physiological injuries as well as physical injuries.
Lost Wages– After an accident you might not be able to work for a significant period of time while you recover. Sometimes injuries are permanent and you may not return to work again. Lost wages is compensation based on your lost income today and even your future earnings.
Property Damage– Was your car a total loss after the accident? Recovering an amount to make you whole again is the idea behind property damage compensation
At The Richard Harris Law Firm we do our best to recover the maximum settlement allowable by law in Nevada today.
How Long do You Have to File a Lawsuit
The statute of limitations for a car accident in Nevada is 2 years from the date of the accident or if a fatality is involved the date of the fatality after the accident.
That is one of the reasons that seeking medical attention immediately is important.
Seeking medical attention on the day of the accident is when the clock starts ticking for the two years timeline.
Also you should seek medical attention just to make sure you’re ok and start the process of healing.
After seeking medical attention you should contact The Richard Harris Law Firm immediately after the accident so we can start the recovery process for you as soon as possible,
Not filing a claim in the two year period can result in not getting any settlement for your accident.
Who Pays Medical Bills After an Accident
Many people have the idea that the other driver’s insurance will pay medical bills after an accident.
Typically however the defendant in a car accident case isn’t responsible for your medical bills until after they are found to be at fault and are required to pay a settlement.
That’s why having an experienced attorney like The Richard Harris Law Firm can be so helpful in navigating the medical billing process.
We can contact the medical billing companies to slow or even stop payments while the case is pending.
We keep records and send you to any medical specialists you may need while the case is pending.
Call The Richard Harris Law Firm for a free consultation today.
