If you have experienced a car accident in New York, it does not take much for your medical bills to rack up. Car accident victims can be left with hefty medical expenses including but not limited to the following:
- Ambulance transportation fees
- Emergency room and hospital fees
- Medical treatment and surgery
- X-rays, MRI scans, CT scans, ultrasounds, and other diagnostic testing
- Services rendered by specialists, radiologists, doctors, surgeons, and other medical professionals
- Out-of-pocket expenses including prescription fees, co-pays, and checkups
Who Pays My Medical Bills After a Car Accident?
Car accident victims may have a couple of options to tap into regarding payment for their medical bills. Typical ways a victim can pay for their medical bills are through PIP coverage, their personal health insurance policy, and ultimately a lawsuit.
Personal Injury Protection Coverage
Personal injury protection coverage, or PIP coverage as it is often known, will automatically pay medical bills regardless of who was at fault for the accident. New York is a no-fault state, and drivers who carry basic automobile coverage as required by law can find some medical bill relief by filing a claim.
New York is one of the 12 no-fault states, meaning automobile insurance companies will pay for a policyholder’s damages and medical bills regardless of who was the actual party at fault. Payments made towards your damages, including your medical bills, are limited to what your policy covers and any restrictions your policy may have. A basic policy will cover up to $50,000 in medical expenses and 80% of lost earnings, but it won’t cover losses like property damage or harm such as your pain and suffering after a crash.
Will Health Insurance Pay Medical Bills After a Car Accident?
Your health insurance policy can also help to pay for the medical bills accrued after a car accident. As with PIP coverage, your health insurance policy will outline how much you will pay and any other policy guidelines. Car accident victims must also adhere to their health care policies’ deductibles, co-pays, and other regulations.
Medicare and Medicaid can also help cover the medical costs associated with a car accident. There are terms and conditions, however, that could limit insurance coverage and policyholders will still be responsible for copays and deductibles.
Full Recovery Through a Civil Lawsuit
People who suffer a “serious injury” as defined in New York’s no-fault law are not limited to filing a claim for no-fault benefits. If you suffered a serious injury and the other driver was to blame, you can sue the at-fault driver to recover the full amount of your legal damages, including all of your present and future medical expenses, payment for lost earnings or disability, plus “non-economic” damages such as pain and suffering, emotional distress, mental anguish, loss in quality of life, disfigurement, etc. You’ll need the help of an experienced personal injury attorney with a record of successful recoveries to make sure you get what you are owed. Filing a lawsuit might not be necessary, and even if it is, your case can likely be resolved through settlement without having to go to court.
Medical Bill Payments and Subrogation
If you do have private health insurance, it’s important to know that your health insurance provider can seek subrogation. Health insurance companies typically have a subrogation clause that allows them to seek reimbursement for the cost of your medical bills. If you receive a settlement through a personal injury lawsuit or claim, your health insurance company can seek payment through the funds you receive in your settlement.
Because health insurance can seek reimbursement through your settlement following a lawsuit, it is important to work with a personal injury attorney when navigating a personal injury lawsuit.
Experienced personal injury and car accident attorneys will often negotiate with healthcare insurance providers to ensure that plaintiffs get the compensation they deserve while health insurance companies get reimbursed for the medical cost associated with the car accident.
Before agreeing to a settlement with the party that caused the car accident and your injury, seek out the experience of a knowledgeable personal injury lawyer. The team at the Kohn Law Firm can represent you through a personal injury settlement so that you recover necessary damages to cover your medical bills and other economic and non-economic losses.
Statute of Limitations for Filing a Car Accident Lawsuit in New York
If you have been the victim of a car accident, it Is important to act quickly so that you get the compensation you deserve.
New York has a statute of limitations on car accident lawsuits, with the deadline for filing a lawsuit being three years after the date of the accident. Once this time expires, you could lose your right to file a personal injury claim and recover the compensation you may be entitled to.
In certain cases the statute of limitations can be extended; however, It’s important to speak with an experienced personal injury lawyer who can help you navigate the details of your case and protect your rights.
At the Kohn Law Firm, our team has decades of expertise in personal injury lawsuits stemming from car accidents. Contact our team today to speak with someone about your case and recover the compensation you deserve for your medical bills and pain and suffering.