If you were hurt in a Georgia car accident, you may be looking at a growing pile of medical bills and wondering how you’re possibly going to afford them. Many people assume that their medical costs are automatically covered if another driver was at fault for the crash. However, the reality is not always so straightforward.
In most car accident cases, your claim will first go through the responsible driver’s insurance company. But you will likely not receive compensation for your medical expenses until you’ve completed your treatment. Until that time, you may be required to pay your medical bills out of pocket. Fortunately, other financial resources may be available so you can access the care you need without emptying your bank account.
Not sure what options are open to you? Let the car accident attorneys at Sherrod & Bernard, P.C., help. We can identify every avenue of compensation that is possible for you after a wreck. Call or contact us today for a free case review.
When Does the At-Fault Driver’s Insurance Cover My Injuries?
If someone else was to blame for the car accident that injured you, you may be entitled to compensation from the other driver or their insurance provider. But it’s not guaranteed.
To recover compensation after a car accident in Georgia, you must be able to prove that the other party was entirely or mostly at fault for the crash. Solid and persuasive proof must show the at-fault driver was negligent, or reckless, at the time of the accident.
Georgia awards compensation using a system called modified comparative negligence. You can only recover compensation if you are no more than 49 percent at fault for the accident. If your portion of fault is even one percentage point higher, no compensation is possible.
With such a thin margin, you can bet that the insurance company or other driver will act aggressively to pin some or all of the blame on you. Even if you are entitled to compensation, the amount you receive may be reduced in proportion to your percentage of fault. Hiring an attorney for settlement negotiations can protect you from being assigned an unfair portion of fault.
Keep in mind that you are legally responsible for your medical bills and the insurance company is not obligated to pay for your expenses as you incur them. For this reason, you should wait to file your claim until you have reached maximum medical improvement (MMI), or the point at which your doctor feels no more recovery is possible. If you develop new injuries or your condition worsens, you can’t go back and renegotiate another settlement later.
Will Medical Bills for My Injuries Start Arriving Before My Car Accident Settlement?
Like anyone, doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals expect to be paid for the services they perform. As such, you most likely will receive medical bills for your injuries before your car accident claim settles, including for:
- Hospital stays
- Emergency room visits
- Diagnostic testing
- Surgical procedures
- Physical or occupational therapy
You don’t need to panic about your medical bills coming in before you get your money. A car accident lawyer can explain your options for managing your expenses in the meantime. However, ignoring them until your settlement comes in can have serious consequences.
What Happens If I Delay Paying My Medical Bills?
Not paying medical bills after a Georgia car accident can result in several penalties. These include:
- Late fees and interest – Failing to pay your medical bills after a Georgia car accident can result in late fees and interest charges. These can grow exponentially over time, making it even more difficult to pay down the original bills.
- Impacts on your credit score – If enough time has gone without payment, medical providers may turn outstanding medical bills over to collection agencies. These companies are known for being aggressive, which can add stress to an already difficult situation. Debts turned over to collection agencies can also negatively affect your credit score and make it challenging for you to secure future loans or lines of credit.
- Legal action – Not paying medical bills can lead to legal action against you. The medical provider may file a lawsuit, resulting in liens on your property or garnishment of your wages.
- Difficulty negotiating with insurers – Having outstanding medical bills can complicate negotiations with insurance companies. They may use your debts as leverage in settlement discussions, knowing that you’re desperate. Accepting a settlement from a poor bargaining position may mean a smaller recovery.
- Stress and mental health impacts – Dealing with debt collections, the potential for legal action, and the fear of losing access to your care providers can take a significant toll on your mental health. The added stress may affect your ability to recover from your physical injuries.
While these are frightening prospects, they are not unavoidable. In fact, there are several ways you can continue receiving care without going into debt or giving in to a low settlement offer.
What Are Some Ways to Pay My Medical Bills While Waiting for My Car Accident Injury Compensation to Arrive?
There are several strategies that you can consider to manage your medical bills while you wait for compensation from your car accident injury claim. These include:
- Personal health insurance – If you have a personal health insurance plan, you may use your policy to cover the costs of any immediate medical care. If you choose this option, your insurer may seek reimbursement from any lawsuit settlements you receive.
- Medical payments (MedPay) coverage – This optional insurance coverage may be available to cover any medical expenses you and your passengers have because of the accident. If you have MedPay in your policy, its coverage will apply regardless of who is at fault and can alleviate some of the immediate costs.
- Payment plans – Healthcare providers are often willing to negotiate payment plans for those dealing with burdensome medical costs after accidents. These plans can provide financial relief while enabling you to pay off your bills over time and, in some cases, with low or even no interest.
- Medical liens – Depending on your specific case, a healthcare provider may opt to establish a medical lien against your eventual settlement. This ensures you get the medical care you need, when you need it.
A better understanding of how each of these applies to your case and what they cover can provide some relief when determining which is the right option for your specific circumstances.
What Is Medical Payments Coverage (MedPay)?
Medical payments coverage, commonly known as MedPay, is a type of auto insurance available to Georgia drivers. It’s optional in the Peach State, so you’ll need to check with an insurance agent or lawyer to determine whether it’s part of your policy.
Georgia law only requires drivers to carry liability insurance, which will not cover your medical bills because it is designed to pay for other people’s expenses if you are at fault. However, if you purchase MedPay coverage, you can turn to your own provider first to cover your accident-related medical bills. MedPay benefits are available no matter who was at fault in a crash.
MedPay insurance is similar to health insurance but is only available when you or someone covered by your policy is injured in a crash. Although benefits can vary, your MedPay provider will likely reimburse you for losses such as:
- Ambulance rides and EMT fees
- Inpatient and outpatient hospital visits
- X-rays and diagnostic tests
- Doctor’s office visits
- Rehabilitation and therapy costs
- Funeral and burial expenses, if someone is fatally injured
Can I Use My Health Insurance Benefits to help Pay for My Accident Injury Bills?
If you don’t have MedPay coverage or the cost of your medical care exceeds your policy limits, your health insurance company may make up the difference. However, keep in mind that you will still have to pay any standard deductibles or copays outlined in your health insurance plan.
In some cases, medical providers may even bill your health insurance company before your MedPay provider. If that happens, your health insurance provider will pass the bill along to the MedPay company for reimbursement.
If you or your employer has made pre-tax contributions to a health savings account (HSA), you could also use HSA funds to cover some or all of your medical costs. When you withdraw funds from an HSA for medical expenses, the money is not recorded as part of your taxable income, lowering healthcare costs in the long run.
Can I Use My Government Benefits to Help Pay for My Accident Injuries Medical Bills?
Government benefits from programs like Medicare and Medicaid may also be used as a secondary resource to cover accident-related medical bills. Medicare is available to many Americans who are disabled or over the age of 65, while Medicaid provides healthcare coverage for people with limited incomes.
If you receive Medicare or Medicaid before a car accident, you can ask either agency to pay for your medical treatment. However, government benefits may not be available until after MedPay benefits and other health insurance benefits have been exhausted.
It’s worth noting that any benefits Medicare and Medicaid provide after an accident are considered conditional payments. If you receive any money from a settlement or verdict related to the crash, you may be expected to reimburse the program.
Will the Insurance Company Pay My Medical Bills Directly?
The at-fault driver’s insurance company typically will not pay for any medical bills directly. Instead, it will pay you a settlement that includes the costs of your care at the end of negotiations. This settlement should cover all of the resulting costs, including:
- Your current and future medical expenses
- Lost wages due to your time off work to recover
- Reduced future earnings for accidents resulting in permanent disabilities
- Pain and suffering
Once you receive the settlement, you can use it to pay back your medical providers. If they placed a lien on your settlement, they will be near the front of the line in terms of your obligations to pay.
What Medical Bills Will My Car Accident Claim Cover?
After a Georgia car accident, you have a legal right to file a personal injury claim against the other driver and any other at-fault parties. A personal injury claim allows you to seek compensation for your medical expenses and other losses from the accident. Your recovery may include immediate healthcare costs, such as:
- Surgery
- Hospitalization
- Emergency room visits
- Ambulance fees
- Doctor visits
- Pain medication during hospitalization
- Medical testing and diagnostics
- Specialist exams
In addition, you can recover compensation for the costs related to long-term care needs, such as:
- Medical devices
- Home modifications
- Medication
- Long-term nursing facility care
- Long-term therapy and rehabilitation costs
- Mental health treatment
How Do I Prove My Damages in a Georgia Car Accident Case?
Recovering compensation from the other driver means showing that they were at fault for causing the accident and that you suffered injuries and losses as a result. A successful lawsuit depends heavily on the evidence you present.
Evidence will serve as the foundation for your Georgia car accident claim. Each item of evidence is a puzzle piece that, when assembled by an experienced attorney, shows both who is at fault and how much they owe you. Without solid proof supporting your claim, securing a fair settlement for your medical bills and other related losses may be nearly impossible. Your evidence should provide a clear image of the full extent of your losses and expenses you have incurred because of the accident.
The particular pieces of evidence available to you will depend on the circumstances of your injuries and treatment but may include the following:
- Medical records – Your medical records document all of the care you received for your injuries and link them to the accident that caused them.
- Financial records – Your receipts, bills, and other financial records will demonstrate all the medical expenses, lost wages, and other costs you face following the accident. They will help you show the full financial impact of your accident so you can demand full and fair compensation.
- Testimony from experts – Testimony from experts is valuable for proving the extent of your injuries and losses. Medical experts can help solidify the link between the accident and your resulting injuries. Your doctor can explain the effects of your injuries, why treatments were necessary, and what your continued recovery will look like. Economists might discuss the way your injuries will affect your finances in the future.
Turning this evidence into a compelling story of what you have lost because of the car crash is crucial to recovering fair compensation for your injuries. This process requires a strategic approach to gathering evidence and presenting it for your case and is best handled by an experienced attorney.
Why Is Calling a Lawyer Important?
Always talk to a car accident attorney before making recorded statements or signing medical authorization releases to the insurance company. Any information you provide will be kept on file and could be used to minimize or deny your claim. A knowledgeable lawyer can deal directly with insurers on your behalf. This will help you avoid common mistakes and focus on what matters — recovering from your injuries and rebuilding your life.
Other ways your attorney will help include:
- Calculating the full extent of your medical expenses and other losses following your accident
- Reviewing your insurance policies to determine the extent of benefits available to you now
- Handling communication with the health insurance companies, healthcare providers, and car insurance companies
- Providing you with emotional support and reassurance
- Explaining your legal rights and the options available to you
- Negotiating for a fair settlement that compensates you for your past, present, and future medical care
- Taking your case to trial if it becomes the best way to demand justice
Reaching out to an attorney as soon as possible after your accident gives them the time to develop an effective legal strategy that is specifically designed for the circumstances surrounding your accident.
Contact Our Georgia Car Accident Lawyers Today
At Sherrod & Bernard, P.C., we can provide a free evaluation of your Georgia car accident claim so that you can make an informed decision about your next steps. Should you choose to hire us, we’ll get started on your case immediately. Our legal team will conduct an independent investigation into the crash to collect valuable supporting evidence for your claim.
Our law firm prepares every case as if it’s going to trial. Once we’ve built a strong and compelling claim, we’ll negotiate aggressively for maximum compensation. Rest assured that we know what arguments to expect from the insurance company and will be prepared with the information needed to counter their claims. Though most cases settle, our extensive preparation means that we can pivot quickly if we need to file a car accident lawsuit on your behalf.
Contact us anytime, 24/7, for a free consultation to learn more.
