Immediately following a car accident, one of the first things you must do is visit a medical professional. There may be injuries that you are unaware of, and often, you may not show symptoms for several days following the collision. Once you confirm that you have suffered an injury, however, you need to know how to fund your recovery. All your medical expenses for accident-related injuries should be compensated for by the at-fault party’s insurance. It’s easy to get mixed up in all of the details of medical care following an accident. Here are some crucial details to keep in mind, provided by California based firm Ellis Injury Law, if you have recently been injured in such an event.
Receiving Compensation for Medical Expenses
When you are injured in a car accident, you must immediately notify your insurance company both if you notice the injury at the scene or following a visit with a physician. At this point, neither you nor your health insurance company will not be expected to cover the costs of the necessary treatment or rehabilitation. Instead, these funds will be provided by the insurance of the negligent party. Compensation is determined by both insurance companies exchanging records of the event, agreeing on the assignment of fault, and deciding on an amount for reimbursement. (You will not be required to negotiate this with the insurers. Negotiations are carried out on your behalf.)
There are a few possibilities to keep in mind, however. If the negligent party’s insurance is unable to provide coverage for all your medical expenses, you will then need to file a lawsuit against them. A lawsuit will ensure that you receive compensation for the remaining balance of your bills, as most bodily injury policies are capped.
The excess amount will be paid for by your health insurance. You also have the option of submitting documents outlining your medical expenses to your insurance company. This option should only be considered in two instances, however:
- The negligent party’s insurer has denied your claim.
- You had to receive medical attention while the claim with the negligent party’s insurer was still pending.
You never know how long this process will take, both on the medical end and on the insurer’s side. You must collect all documentation and keep it safely stored for future communications and to ensure you receive accurate compensation.
What to Know if Your Health Insurance Compensates Your Injuries
If you have already submitted documentation of your medical expenses to your health insurance company and retain eligibility for insurance compensation, you may not receive the money directly. Instead, your insurer may place a lien on the compensation award to cover what was disbursed for your accrued expenses.
These are all very tricky circumstances to navigate. For proper guidance on where you should submit your medical documents and what to expect, hire a car accident lawyer. With a good car accident lawyer by your side, you can be sure that you will receive a timely compensation award from the guilty party’s insurer. This assurance will grant you a smooth recovery from your injuries.
