Car accidents can have serious consequences, including both injuries and property damage. Injuries vary in severity from minor scrapes to serious, life-threatening emergencies, and not all of them appear right away. The symptoms of some car accident injuries don’t appear for days, weeks, or even months after an accident, which means victims may accrue new medical expenses long after the fact.
The good news is that even if an accident victim only sustains minor injuries, or delayed injuries, it’s often possible to obtain compensation to pay for medical care, lost wages, and non-economic damages like pain and suffering. The injuries must be serious enough to warrant losses, but they don’t have to be life-threatening. No matter what type of injury an accident victim has suffered, a lawyer can help hold the responsible party accountable and obtain financial compensation for the injured party.
When to Seek Medical Care
People with obvious, severe injuries don’t need to be told how important it is to go to the hospital before visiting dixoninjuryfirm.com to find a lawyer. Unfortunately, those who have suffered only minor injuries are often under the erroneous impression that they need to wait until after filing a claim and receiving compensation to seek medical care. In fact, the opposite is true, and accident victims who seek care immediately will have an easier time proving that they sustained injuries during the crash.
Who Pays the Bills?
Even if an accident victim was in no way responsible for the crash, he or she will still need to pay medical bills or copays. The compensation obtained during the settlement process or at trial can be used to repay the victim after the fact, but that doesn’t help at the moment. Common ways that accident victims pay for the immediate medical care required include the following.
Health Insurance and HSAs
People who have planned ahead for medical emergencies should be in good shape. Accident victims who already have health insurance will only be charged copays for each visit and medication, and those who have health savings accounts (HSAs) can use them to cover costs until a settlement has been reached.
Personal Injury Insurance Coverage
Some drivers carry personal injury protection insurance coverage as part of their automotive insurance plans. This type of insurance is designed to cover a fixed portion of both medical bills and lost wages following a crash. Though Missouri drivers are not required to carry personal injury insurance, it’s often included under comprehensive coverage.
Hardship Arrangements
If there’s no way for an accident victim to pay medical bills, the healthcare provider may be able to offer hardship arrangements to lower the associated medical expenses. Just keep in mind that most programs have income caps.
A Lawyer Can Maximize Chances of Receiving Compensation
Although accident victims are required to pay for medical care up front following a crash, they can usually get the money back with the help of a lawyer. A personal injury lawyer can negotiate with the responsible driver’s insurance company to ensure that the victim receives a fair compensation package or take the liable party to court if the insurance company won’t budge. Even if the responsible driver didn’t have insurance, a lawyer can help the injured party explore legal options to pay bills and cover damages.
Schedule a Consultation
For anyone who has been in a car accident, the best time to seek legal representation is as soon as possible after the crash. Prioritize seeking medical care first, regardless of what it takes to pay for it, but schedule a consultation with a lawyer upon returning home from the hospital or clinic.