Who Pays Your Medical Bills After an Accident?

Coloradans who suffer injuries in accidents, especially those that are caused by no fault of their own, endure many physical, emotional and financial stresses. If you’ve been injured in an accident, I understand the pain and stress you are going through.

I am Jeffrey Scott Lasswell, a Colorado Springs personal injury lawyer. I am committed to holding all liable parties, including businesses and property owners, responsible for their negligent actions and inactions.

You should not have to suffer financial devastation after being injured in a personal injury or premises liability accident. I am ready to help in any way that I can. I know how to handle the insurance companies in your case. I can help you deal with the complicated legal issues you are facing in your case. While you focus on your recovery, I will fight for the justice and compensation you deserve.

Now is the time to schedule a free, initial consultation with me. Ready? Call me today.

Who Will Pay My Medical Bills After an Accident?

The question of how your medical bills will get paid is a crucial one in any personal injury or premises liability accident. Here are some of the ways that your mounting medical expenses could get paid.

• Medical payment coverage. Medical payment coverage, or Med Pay, covers the “reasonable” medical expenses you incur when you are hurt in a car accident. Reasonable expenses could include the costs associated with doctor’s visits, as well as X-rays, CT scans and hospitalization. Med Pay cannot and does not act as a substitute for standard health insurance.
• Health insurance. If you are injured in a personal injury or premises liability accident, you should be covered by your own health insurance. If your health insurance pays for your medical bills, that company may have a right to subrogation of any funds you collect. Subrogation means one party stands in the place of another. If the insurance company paid for your damages, it gets to stand in your shoes and get repaid when you obtain a settlement or win a verdict from the at-fault party.
• I find a provider for you. What if you do not have health insurance? As your attorney, I can help you find a health care provider that would be willing to pay for treatment on a “lien” basis. The health care doctor would assign a lien to my office. That would entitle them to repayment from your personal injury settlement or court verdict.
• The at-fault party or their insurance will pay. The at-fault party has a legal obligation to pay for your medical expenses and any other damages you incur. While they will not pay your medical bills right away, they will reimburse you for your past, present and future expenses, assuming your claim is successful.

What Is Med Pay?

Under Colorado law, you are given the option of buying $5,000 in Med Pay coverage whenever you purchase car insurance. Med Pay coverage is completely optional. The Med Pay law was written to protect trauma care providers. The law requires the insurer to reserve the first $5,000 of Med Pay coverage to pay bills from the ambulance, trauma physicians and trauma center. A trauma physician is typically the first provider of medical care to the injured person.

Med Pay will pay your doctors and reimburse you for health insurance co-pays and deductibles if you choose to also use your health insurance. Med Pay benefits are used for several accident-related expenses, such as emergency room bills, surgical bills, X-rays and MRIs. The benefits can also be used for your follow-up care. Med Pay covers your medical bills even if you are the one at fault for the car accident.

While Med Pay coverage may be an additional premium on your car insurance, it can provide you with peace of mind. Med Pay makes a significant difference in how much money you receive from the settlement of your claim. The coverage can also be used to pay your deductibles at the doctor’s office and hospital. Whenever you settle your personal injury case, you do not have to reimburse the insurer for anything that was covered by Med Pay.

What Should I Do if the Insurance Company Offers Me a Settlement?

If an insurance company offers you a settlement, more than likely, it is less than what you deserve. If you believe the offer is too low or know it will not cover your expenses, do not agree to it. You do not have to accept an insurance company’s offer. Insurers want to pay you the lowest amount they can. That goal helps explain their initial lowball offer.

You deserve to seek full and fair compensation for your injuries. It is critical that you consult with me before you accept any offer. As an experienced Colorado personal injury lawyer, I can help you calculate all the compensation you are entitled to. That includes compensation for your medical bills as well as the pain and suffering that your accident caused.

How a Lawyer Can Help Demand Full Compensation

As an experienced Colorado personal injury attorney, I can ensure you understand your rights. As your lawyer, I will help you understand the maximum amount you are likely to receive. I will help you negotiate an acceptable amount with the insurance company. I will know the amount that you should not go below. If negotiations fail, you will have an attorney by your side who is prepared to fight in court for the full and fair compensation you deserve.

Contact Me Today

Now is the time to put an experienced Colorado Springs injury attorney on your team. I will thoroughly investigate your accident and determine whether you are entitled to compensation. Whether you have been injured in a personal injury or premises liability accident, I am ready to help. Call me now to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation.