Who Covers Medical Expenses After a Car Accident in California

In California, medical expenses after a car accident can be covered by multiple parties. Your own health insurance is usually the primary source of coverage.

If you're involved in a car accident in California, your own health insurance will typically be the first line of defense in covering your medical expenses. This is because California law requires drivers to have liability insurance, but it doesn't cover medical expenses.

In California, medical payments coverage, also known as MedPay, can be used to help cover medical expenses if you've elected to purchase it.

MedPay is available for an increased premium and covers the accident-related medical bills of the policyholder and their passengers up to the coverage limit, which is usually between $1,000 and $10,000.

With MedPay, there are no deductibles, and your insurer must pay even if you were at fault for the accident.

Additional practitioners that wouldn't be covered under traditional health insurance, like chiropractors and acupuncturists, may be covered under MedPay.

If you have MedPay, you should use that coverage.

In California, if you can demonstrate that the other driver was largely or entirely responsible for the accident, you may be entitled to compensation from a personal injury claim or lawsuit against the at-fault driver and their insurance company.

You could potentially obtain money to cover your accident-related medical costs from the at-fault driver, their employer, your insurance provider, or government aid programs like Medicare or Medicaid.

Here are some possible sources of compensation:

If you're involved in a car accident in California, understanding insurance coverage and policy limits is crucial for getting your medical bills paid. Medical payments coverage, or MedPay, is an optional feature that can help cover medical expenses up to the policy limit, usually between $1,000 and $10,000.

California is an at-fault state, meaning the party responsible for causing the accident is liable for the damages, including medical bills. This principle of negligence requires proving four key elements: duty of care, breach of duty, causation, and damages.

MedPay is available for an increased premium and covers the accident-related medical bills of the policyholder and their passengers, regardless of fault. This coverage can be particularly beneficial for addressing immediate medical needs without delay.

In Missouri, medical payments coverage is a type of no-fault insurance paid no matter who caused the crash, up to the limits purchased. Typically, motorists purchase $1,000 in medical payments coverage, but it's recommended to consider raising the limits to $5,000, $10,000, or more.

If your medical expenses exceed the at-fault driver's policy limits, you may face challenges obtaining the compensation you deserve. The average cost of medical bills after a car accident can be as high as $57,000, so it's essential to assess your own policy limits and explore additional coverage options.

Filing a claim against the at-fault driver's insurance can be a viable option to recover medical expenses and other losses.

You'll need to gather evidence of the other party's negligence and document your medical bills and other costs. An experienced attorney can help you prepare and present your claim to maximize your chances of receiving fair compensation.

Negotiating with medical providers can also help reduce costs. Many providers are willing to work with patients to establish a manageable payment plan or offer discounts for larger lump payments.

You should ask about your options, as medical providers don't automatically apply discounts when dealing directly with patients.

In some cases, medical providers may place a lien on your settlement or judgment to recover the outstanding balance for services rendered. This is known as a medical lien.

In California, courts use a doctrine of pure comparative negligence to decide how much compensation to award accident victims.

This means that even if you're partially at fault for an accident, you can still sue the other party for compensation based on their percentage of fault.

If the other driver is 75 percent at fault for an accident, you can recover up to 75 percent of your damages, which could be $75,000 if your damages total $100,000.

The at-fault driver can also sue you for up to 25 percent of their damages if you're responsible for that portion of the fault.

A Sacramento car accident lawyer can help you present evidence to reduce your own liability and increase the overall compensation available to you.