If you're involved in a car accident in Texas, you'll likely have to deal with medical bills. In Texas, the at-fault driver's insurance company is responsible for paying your medical expenses.
The at-fault driver's insurance company will typically pay for medical expenses related to the accident, including emergency room visits, surgeries, and ongoing treatment. This is because Texas is an at-fault state, meaning the driver who caused the accident is responsible for the damages.
You can expect the insurance company to pay for medical expenses up to the policy limit. If the at-fault driver's insurance coverage is insufficient to cover all your medical bills, you may need to look into other options for payment.
How Medical Bills are Paid
Medical bills can be overwhelming, especially after a car accident. In Texas, medical bills are typically covered by the at-fault driver's insurance company.
The at-fault driver's insurance company will usually cover medical bills, lost wages, and property damages. If you're injured in a car accident, you can expect to receive payment for these expenses.
Medical bills can be significant, with some accidents resulting in bills of $9,000 or more. If you're facing a large hospital bill, it's essential to contact your attorney immediately.
Your attorney may be able to help you with contingency-based medical billing, which allows you to delay paying medical bills until a settlement is reached. This can be a huge relief, especially if you're struggling to pay your bills.
If your attorney can't make arrangements for contingency-based billing, you may need to pay for your own medical care. This can be a significant financial burden, especially if you're already dealing with the costs of a car accident.
Here are the minimum liability limits for Texas drivers:
- $30,000 for each injured person
- Up to $60,000 per accident
- $25,000 for property damage per accident
Keep in mind that these are the bare minimum requirements, and actual damages could be much higher. If your damages exceed the other driver's maximum coverage amounts, you can file suit to collect the difference.
Understanding Your Texas Auto Policy
In Texas, your auto policy is designed to protect you and others in the event of a car accident. Texas is an "at-fault" state, which means the driver responsible for the accident is liable for covering all resulting bills.
Your Texas auto policy must include liability coverage, which compensates others for injuries and property damage they suffer in a car accident caused by the insured driver. This is a mandatory requirement.
If you're involved in a car accident, you may need to file a claim against the at-fault driver's insurance company to recover compensation for your losses. This can be a complicated process, involving negotiation with the driver's insurance company.
To get your initial medical bills paid, you can file a claim against your own personal injury protection (PIP) policy, if you have it. PIP will cover your medical expenses up to the limits of the policy while the claim against the at-fault driver is pending.
Here are some common types of medical expenses that may arise after a car accident:
- Emergency room bills
- Hospital bills
- Surgery costs
- Lab fees
- Physical therapy, rehabilitation expenses
- Prescription medications
- Pain management
- Prosthetics
- Future medical costs related to a permanent disability
In Texas, medical payments coverage is an option on most personal automobile insurance plans. It's highly recommended that you purchase medical payments coverage and make a medical payments demand as soon as possible following your initial treatment.
Liens and Financial Obligations
You may be able to get necessary medical treatment without paying out-of-pocket if your attorney recommends a healthcare provider that will place a lien on your recovery in exchange for the treatment.
In situations like this, you can receive all the necessary medical treatment without any upfront costs. The healthcare provider will be paid out of your recovery once your matter is resolved.
The amount you pay may be significantly reduced compared to paying the full amount upfront.
Other Financial Resources
If you're missing time from work due to injuries, health insurance can cover medical fees, but it won't cover basic necessities like rent, mortgage, utilities, and groceries.
Government and private support services are available in Texas to help with these expenses. The website NeedHelpPayingmyBills.com offers information on these services, including county-specific information.
These services can help your family deal with logistical hassles, allowing you to focus on recovery.
Liens
If your attorney recommends it, you can see healthcare providers who will give you necessary medical treatment without you paying out of pocket. They'll place a lien on your recovery to get paid.
Some healthcare providers will agree to this arrangement, allowing you to get all the medical treatment you need without paying upfront.
You won't have to worry about paying for each visit or treatment session, and once your matter is resolved, the healthcare provider will be paid out of your recovery, possibly with significant reductions.
Filing a Claim and Seeking Compensation
In Texas's at-fault system for car accident claims, you have the right to seek full reimbursement from those who caused the crash for the cost of medical and rehabilitation expenses incurred to treat your accident injuries.
To pursue compensation, you can file a personal injury claim against the driver who caused the accident. This typically starts with filing an insurance claim with the at-fault driver's insurer to pursue a negotiated settlement.
If the at-fault driver and their insurance won't agree to a fair settlement, you can file a personal injury lawsuit on your behalf, asking the court to order the insurer to reimburse you for your medical bills and other losses.
Recovering compensation for medical bills will require you to prove the other driver's fault for the auto accident. An experienced personal injury lawyer can gather various types of evidence, including police crash reports, accident scene photos and videos, and eyewitness accounts.
You will also need documentation to establish the injuries and losses you've suffered due to the accident. Medical records of your treatment and rehabilitation, bills, invoices, and receipts for medical care, rehabilitation, and out-of-pocket expenses will help you calculate your past medical costs.
Here's a list of evidence that can support your claim:
- Police crash reports
- Accident scene photos and videos
- Surveillance or traffic camera or dashcam footage
- Eyewitness accounts
- Car computer logs
- Drivers' cell phone records and GPS logs
- Vehicle maintenance and repair records
- Post-accident car inspections
- Accident reconstruction expert reports and testimony
If you're offered a settlement, be aware that most initial car accident settlement offers from insurers are low. It's best to work with a seasoned personal injury attorney to secure the maximum car accident settlement possible.
Managing Hospital Bills and Expenses
Managing hospital bills and expenses can be overwhelming, especially after a car accident. The average cost of medical bills after a car accident can be as high as $57,000.
If you have health insurance, it's essential to use it to pay your immediate medical bills as you receive them. This can help prevent your bills from going to collections and save you from ruined credit. Using your health insurance can also lead to lower overall medical bills, as your health insurance company will pay the bills at a much lower rate than the retail "billed" rate charged by healthcare providers.
You should also consider purchasing medical payments coverage, which can be a valuable addition to your auto insurance plan. This type of coverage can help pay your deductible or co-pay requirements and is relatively inexpensive. Typically, motorists purchase $1,000 in medical payments coverage, but it's recommended to consider raising your limits to $5,000 or more.
If you have a personal injury attorney on your case, you should call them immediately if you receive a hospital bill. They can help you navigate the billing process and ensure that you receive fair compensation for your medical expenses.
Here are some common types of medical expenses you may face after a car accident:
- Emergency room bills
- Hospital bills
- Surgery costs
- Lab fees
- Physical therapy and rehabilitation expenses
- Prescription medications
- Pain management
- Prosthetics
- Future medical costs related to a permanent disability
In Texas, the driver who is determined to be at fault for a collision is responsible for covering all the resulting bills. However, before the at-fault driver's insurance company will reimburse an accident victim for any of their bills, the victim will have to prove that the other motorist caused the crash.
Texas Auto Insurance and Coverage
Texas operates as an at-fault state for car accident claims. In an at-fault system, you can immediately pursue legal action against the driver or another party who caused the car accident.
Medical payments coverage is an option on most personal automobile insurance plans, and it's highly recommended that you purchase it. You should instruct your insurance company to pay the medical payment benefits to you, not to the healthcare providers.
In Texas, you can file a claim against your own personal injury protection (PIP) policy, if you have it, to cover your medical expenses up to the limits of the policy. PIP will cover your medical expenses while the claim against the at-fault driver is pending.
Health insurance companies have agreements with most medical providers to pay only partial fees, so using your own health insurance might end up paying less. You won't have to pay each healthcare provider back separately after settlement or judgment.
The average cost of medical bills after a car accident can be as high as $57,000, making medical payments coverage a valuable option. It's relatively inexpensive and can be used to pay your deductible or co-pay requirements.
You should let an experienced lawyer deal with the insurer if you have injuries from a car accident, as getting compensation from a negligent driver is a complicated process. Your attorney can usually submit a demand letter that seeks payment for all of your medical bills as well as other damages.
Immediate Action After a Car Accident
After a car accident in Texas, it's essential to take immediate action to ensure your medical needs are met. You'll want to get to a hospital or trauma center as soon as possible for emergency treatment.
Many car accident victims are transported from the accident scene to hospitals for emergency treatment. In some cases, your primary care physician may be a better option if you have less severe injuries.
Don't avoid seeking medical attention because you're worried about the medical bills. Serious injuries often don't have immediate symptoms, and getting checked out by your doctor as soon as possible is crucial for a complete recovery.
You may be able to use your own health insurance to pay for ongoing medical treatment while your claim is pending. This way, your health insurance company can seek to recover some of its costs from the at-fault driver's insurance later on.
In some cases, hospitals or medical care providers may agree to delay collection of payment for services if your lawyers notify them that you're pursuing a claim.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does insurance work when it's not your fault?
If you're not at fault in a car accident, the other driver's liability insurance typically covers damage to your vehicle and medical expenses up to their policy's limit. This coverage can be especially helpful if your own policy doesn't provide adequate protection.
Sources
- https://www.brownandcrouppen.com/blog/medical-bills-after-car-accicent/
- https://www.enjuris.com/texas/financial-options/
- https://www.douggoyen.com/medpay-insurance-in-texas-automobile-insurance-policies.html
- https://www.herrmanandherrman.com/texas-personal-injury-firm/car-wreck/who-pays-medical-bills-in-a-texas-car-accident/
- https://www.kraftlaw.com/legal-articles/how-medical-bills-are-paid-after-a-car-accident-in-texas/
Featured Images: pexels.com