After being involved in a car, truck, motorcycle accident, or pedestrian accident, most people suffer injuries and seek medical treatment. Typically, this results in expensive medical bills that may need to be paid soon after the auto accident.
How to Get Your Bills Paid After an Auto Accident
Under North Carolina law, the at-fault party’s insurance company should pay for reasonable medical expenses. Keep in mind, insurance companies do not play fair and they look for ways to deny the claim. Even with straightforward claims where liability seems clear, insurance companies have several routine arguments that they use to deny these claims such as: 1) the at-fault driver no longer has valid insurance, 2) the claimant had a pre-existing medical condition (of any kind), 3) the medical expenses were unreasonably high, 4) the medical expenses were not medically necessary, and 5) the victim was partially at-fault or should have seen and/or avoided the accident. To begin, you or your auto accident attorney will need to make a claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance company. You may also decide to file a claim with your personal auto insurer, but you should consult with your attorney about which insurance company to pursue.
At-Fault Driver’s Car Insurance Claim
Under North Carolina law, the insurance company for the at-fault driver should help you pay the medical expenses. But note, insurance companies do not play fair and there may be several arguments that the insurance company makes to deny your claim. The sooner that your injury lawyer is involved, the more help that we can provide. As a personal injury attorney, I find that statements made by unrepresented claimants can be the basis for denial of claims. In North Carolina, each driver who operates a car is required to carry at least $30,000 for bodily injury liability, per person per accident.
Medical Payments Coverage (Medpay)
Medical payment coverage, also called MedPay, may be available to cover the cost of medical expenses, regardless of who was at fault. You may be entitled to recover medpay from your own insurance company, or if you were an injured passenger, from the insurance policy covering the vehicle. To learn more, please see our article on medical payment coverage in NC.
Uninsured / Underinsured Insurance Coverage
When there is no coverage or insufficient coverage for the at-fault driver, your own car insurance may help you pay your medical bills after an auto accident. In North Carolina, each policy is required to have Uninsured and Underinsured coverage.
Private Health Insurance, Medicaid, and Medicare
If you have private insurance, Medicaid, or Medicare, these benefits may be available to pay the cost of your accident-related medical expenses. However, if one of these services initially pays your medical expenses, you may be required to reimburse these services if you receive compensation from the at-fault party’s insurance company.
Effective Legal Representation for Auto Accident Victims
If you or a loved one have been involved in an automobile or pedestrian accident, take control. At the end of your claim, you do not want to owe thousands in medical expenses. Do not let the insurance company play games, contact our personal injury lawyers in Raleigh at (919) 800-2000.