After a serious car wreck, the road to recovery may seem full of potholes.
Many accident victims wonder what to do next, especially as their medical expenses keep climbing. The Mike Hostilo Law Firm can help!
Our car accident lawyers will handle your auto claim from start to finish, relying on decades of experience to recover the damages you deserve. Proud to serve clients in the at-fault states of Georgia, Alabama and South Carolina, we will even work with the insurance company – so you can focus on restoring your health. For legal advice when you need it most, contact our car crash lawyers.
In at-fault states like Georgia, Alabama and South Carolina, the driver responsible for causing the accident is responsible for damages. Your auto claim seeks compensation from their insurance company, but while you await a payment, what do you do about mounting medical bills?
Medical payment insurance coverage (MedPay) and personal injury protection (PIP) insurance can help pay medical bills in the meantime. These coverages are not based on fault, and offer coverage up to a certain level. To learn more about at-fault vs. no-fault coverage, contact your car accident lawyer today.
Yes, if you carry health coverage, you should use it to pay for all accident-related medical treatment. Because the at-fault driver’s insurance company will likely not make a settlement offer until medical bills have been submitted, there will be a waiting period between your car wreck and the day you receive payment. Once you recover your settlement, a portion of those funds will first be used to pay back your health insurance company. Because many accident victims rely on recovered damages to also pay for vehicle repairs, it is important to maximize your settlement to ensure it covers all your expenses.
If you do not have health insurance, your car accident attorney may issue a “letter of protection” to your doctor, making a legal promise that your medical bills will be paid out of the damages recovered in your auto claim. Once the at-fault driver’s insurance company awards damages, the doctor will be paid first.
Medicaid only pays a portion of your medical bills, typically around 10% to 20%, but you are not expected to pay the difference. Once you collect from the at-fault driver’s insurance company, you must reimburse Medicaid for the expenses it covered.
Understanding Health Insurance vs Auto Insurance After an Auto Accident
While your health insurance company will cover only medical bills, the at-fault driver’s car insurance company is responsible for all damages associated with your auto wreck. In addition to medical bills, you may be eligible for compensation for:
Medicare vs Medicaid After an Auto Accident
Both Medicare and Medicaid can assist with medical bills after your accident. Be sure to report your car crash to The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Once you have done this, Medicare or Medicaid will place a lien on the medical bills they covered to make sure that they are reimbursed. Your skilled car accident lawyer may be able to negotiate the lien amount so that you can keep more of the money you receive.
Coverage can be complicated, leaving accident victims feeling overwhelmed. Let our car accident lawyers handle the insurance company, always advocating for the compensation you deserve. For trusted legal advice, there’s only one team in town: The Mike Hostilo Law Firm. Contact us today to schedule your free consultation!
You can find us serving car crash victims in the following areas we serve:
GEORGIA LAWYERS
Albany, GA
Atlanta, GA
Augusta, GA
Columbus, GA
Macon, GA
(Park of Commerce) Savannah, GA
(Abercorn) Savannah, GA
Statesboro, GA
Warner Robins, GA
SOUTH CAROLINA LAWYERS
Aiken, SC
Beaufort, SC
North Charleston, SC
ALABAMA LAWYERS
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