Colorado Tort Law & Car Accidents: Who Pays for Your Medical Bills?
If you have been injured in a car accident, you may need to pursue financial compensation to cover all of your losses, including Medical bills. The Thornton car accident attorneys at The Frickey Law Firm can represent you in the legal process, which could lead to a settlement. The Frickey Law Firm has been representing Colorado’s injured for over 50 years.
Even if the other driver has the ultimate responsibility to pay for your medical bills, you would need to receive medical care well before the point that they would pay you. Between your car and health insurance policies, you should have coverage for your medical bills in the interim. However, you may experience challenges in dealing with both your insurance companies and your health care providers, especially when your medical care is costly. We specialize in auto accident cases and we know how to maximize case values. We also can get you to the right medical experts for medical care and treatment. It is important that your medical providers properly document your injuries.
Schedule a free initial consultation with the Thornton car accident lawyers to learn more about your medical expenses coverage and other legal issues relating to your accident. Then, you will realize that you are not in this alone.
You May Have Coverage Under Your Own Car Insurance Policy
Colorado is considered a no-fault state for car accidents. If the other driver involved in the crash was to blame for the accident, they would be legally obligated to pay for your medical bills. However, it could take a considerable amount of time to negotiate an insurance settlement or win a court case. In the meantime, you may have medical bills that are piling up during a time when you may not be able to work.
Unlike other states, Colorado car insurance policies do not offer personal injury protection. You still have some measure of comfort in knowing that your policy still has some coverage for your medical bills. Every Colorado car insurance policy comes with something called MedPay.
Your car insurance policy automatically includes up to $5,000 in MedPay coverage. Admittedly, this is not a lot of money when the average stay in the hospital can cost far more. MedPay is optional beyond the $5,000 coverage. You have the ability to purchase additional coverage that can be there for you if you have been hurt in an accident. Hopefully, you have availed yourself of this option and purchased an amount of coverage that is sufficient to pay for car accident Medical bills.
MedPay coverage does not depend on fault in the car accident. Your medical bills can be paid up to the amount of the policy limit, even if you were the one who was to blame for the accident. The amount of the policy limit depends on the coverage that you have purchased. MedPay only covers medical expenses. Unlike PIP, there are no payments for lost wages.
If you exhaust your MedPay coverage, you would then turn to your health insurance company to pay your remaining medical costs. Your care would be covered in accordance with the terms of your policy, and you may be responsible for some of your own costs, including copayments and deductibles. It is still possible that you can be facing large medical bills, even if you have both MedPay and health insurance coverage. You may need to speak to your treatment providers about these costs and negotiate either reduced payments or additional time to cover the bills. If you do not have health insurance, we work closely with medical lien companies and treatment providers that will treat you on a lien, this allows you to get the medical care you need to recover from your accident..
Insurance Companies Are Reimbursed if You Get a Car Accident Settlement
If you are able to prove fault in the car accident, the other driver would then take on the legal obligation to cover your medical bills. Know that you may not be able to keep all of the proceeds of the settlement if your medical care has already been paid for by your own insurance coverage. An insurance company would initiate a process called subrogation, in which they are entitled to reimbursement from your settlement for the money that they have already paid. It is essential that you not lose sight of this fact when you are negotiating a car accident settlement because you need to have money left over to pay for other vital costs and expenses.
Medical care coverage is a complex topic in Colorado car accident cases, given the number of potential sources of payment for your bills. When you hire a car accident attorney for your case, they would guide you through your available coverages and communicate with insurance and health care providers on your behalf. Your main focus should be on getting the medical care that you need to treat your car accident injuries without having to worry about the prohibitive costs.
Contact a Thornton Car Accident Law Firm Today
If you have been injured in a motor vehicle crash, reach out to the experienced Thornton car accident attorneys at The Frickey Law Firm. You can schedule a free initial consultation by visiting our website or by calling us today at 303-237-7373.
Adam M. McClure was recently selected for membership in “The National Trial Lawyers: Top 40 Under 40” organization, making him one of only 40 Colorado lawyers to be awarded this honor. Mr. McClure is an exceptional litigator. He has been a key member of The Frickey Law Firm since 2003. Learn more here.