Most Missouri workers are eligible for workers’ compensation benefits to cover the costs of medical expenses and missed wages caused by work-related injuries. In some cases, these benefits may also apply to the effects According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), motor vehicle crashes cost the United States approximately $340 billion per year. The National Institutes of Health also notes that within just one year, the average car accident victim faces almost $7,000 in medical costs. When one considers the “paycheck-to-paycheck” lifestyle of most Americans and the loss of income caused by disabilities, it is easy to see how a car crash can spell financial ruin. After a car accident, victims should immediately consider potential sources of compensation for medical bills. To assess these options in more detail, consider a consultation with an experienced car accident attorney in Missouri. To continue this conversation alongside Steelman Gaunt Crowley, call (573) 341-8336 today.
Always Seek Medical Treatment After an Accident
Even if victims are reluctant to seek treatment due to financial limitations, they should always prioritize their health after a car accident. First of all, this makes sense from a medical perspective – as good health is priceless. Do not ignore potentially life-threatening injuries simply due to economic hardships. Remember, many car accident injuries are worse than they might appear at first. The classic example is an intracranial hemorrhage – a common injury after a knock to the head. This condition can cause bleeding within the skull and brain, gradually causing enough fatal levels of pressure. Often, patients with brain bleeds have no idea how bad this condition is until it is too late. Medical treatment ensures proper testing, helping patients spot intracranial hemorrhages and other serious issues.
Prompt treatment also makes sense from a legal perspective. If a victim neglects to seek treatment, there will be no documentation of their injuries in their medical records. In other words, they will have no evidence with which to prove that their injuries are real. This evidence could be crucial as victims pursue compensation for their injuries.
Who Pays My Medical Bills After a Car Accident?
Although negligent drivers may be held liable for car accident injuries, it is the victim who is responsible for paying the initial cost of treatment. Victims may turn to various sources when paying for these initial bills.
Insurance
A common type of insurance in this scenario is Med Pay, which could cover some or all medical bills after a car accident. However, Med Pay is an optional insurance “add-on,” and victims must purchase this coverage before their car accidents. In addition, the Missouri Uninsured Motorist Statute makes uninsured motorist coverage mandatory for all drivers. This type of insurance may help cover medical bills after an accident
Liens
If victims cannot pay their medical bills after an accident, they may go into debt in order to cover their treatment. This medical debt often takes the form of a lien. For example, a car accident victim may incur a six-figure medical bill after suffering a catastrophic injury. After using various insurance policies to cover some of this treatment, they may generate additional income through a lien against their home. When they sell the property, they are legally required to pay the medical debt with the proceeds of the sale.
Negligent Drivers
With all that said, it is still possible to pursue compensation from a negligent driver after a car accident. A personal injury lawsuit can provide enough to cover all outstanding medical bills, helping victims alleviate medical debt and losses. However, a personal injury lawsuit can take months or even years to resolve. Because of this, healthcare providers will not wait for a settlement or verdict – and they require payment within a much shorter timeframe. In addition, it is important to remember that the outcome of a personal injury lawsuit is not guaranteed. To assess the likelihood of success in a personal injury lawsuit, consider speaking with Steelman Gaunt Crowley.
How Does a Personal Injury Lawsuit Help Pay for Medical Bills?
Medical bills represent economic damages in a personal injury lawsuit, and victims can claim these damages while holding negligent drivers liable. These medical bills may include emergency room treatment, X-rays, emergency transport, follow-ups with specialists, rehabilitation, and any other medical cost incurred after the car accident. Victims should carefully collect all records of these treatments, including doctors’ notes, medical images, and medical receipts.
A Personal Injury Lawsuit Can Also Cover Lost Income
Medical bills only represent one example of an economic damage. After a car accident, victims may also miss significant amounts of income due to their injuries. Some victims with permanent disabilities may never work again. These losses make medical bills even more challenging to pay – and a personal injury lawsuit may be able to cover missed wages.
Consider Waiting Until Maximum Medical Improvement
Victims may want to wait until reaching Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI) before pursuing compensation for their medical bills. When a victim reaches MMI, doctors agree that their health issues have stopped improving. As a result, they will likely face their current health challenges for the rest of their life. If a victim pursues compensation for medical bills before this point in the healing process, it may be difficult to calculate economic damages accurately. For example, a patient might have a 50% chance of walking again after a pedestrian accident in Missouri. After six months, doctors may agree that the patient has permanently lost the use of their legs. Once the patient becomes aware of this prognosis, they can pursue accurate compensation for not only their medical bills, but also lost wages and non-economic damages.
FAQ –
Q: Who covers my medical bills immediately after a car accident?
It depends on what insurance you have. In many cases, your own auto‑insurance policy (through things like Personal Injury Protection — PIP — or optional MedPay coverage) or your private health insurance will cover initial treatment. If you don’t have those, sometimes providers treat you first and wait for payment (or you may need to pay out-of-pocket).
Q: What if I was not at fault — will the other driver’s insurance pay my medical bills?
Eventually, yes — the at‑fault driver’s liability insurance should cover your medical bills and other damages. But payment typically happens only after fault is determined and the case (or claim) is resolved, which can take time.
Q: What if my initial insurance (auto or health) pays for treatment — do I still get compensated later?
Yes — but there’s often a process called “subrogation” or reimbursement. If your health insurance or auto‑insurance (like MedPay or PIP) pays for your bills, they may have the right to be reimbursed from your eventual personal injury settlement. That means some portion of a future payout might go toward repaying them.
Q: What if the bills exceed what my insurance covers?
If your injuries are serious and require extensive care (hospitalization, surgery, therapy, long‑term treatment), initial coverage might not be enough. In that case, you may rely on the at‑fault driver’s liability coverage — by filing a claim or lawsuit — to recover the balance plus any additional damages like lost wages or pain and suffering. Some doctors or clinics also offer to treat you on a lien basis (meaning they wait to be paid until you receive your settlement) if you don’t have the funds up‑front.
Q: What are the common steps for handling medical bills after an accident?
- Use any applicable auto‑insurance coverage (PIP or MedPay) or your health insurance to cover immediate treatment.
- Keep detailed records of all medical treatment, bills, and related expenses.
- If the other driver was at fault, file a claim with their insurer for full compensation.
- If bills were paid by your insurance, be prepared for them to request reimbursement from any settlement (subrogation).
- If necessary, arrange with medical providers to wait on billing (lien), or negotiate bills to avoid large out‑of‑pocket costs while the case is pending.
Contact Steelman Gaunt Crowley
While it may be crucial to consider potential sources of compensation after an accident, healthcare is the first priority. Victims should seek immediate treatment after a crash – and they should not hesitate to see doctors due to financial concerns. After injuries stabilize, victims can consider potential options – including personal injury lawsuits. Although online research may be able to provide basic answers, a consultation could offer more targeted guidance based on the unique circumstances of each patient. Learn more about how your medical bills are paid after a car accident in the state of Missouri by visiting with our experienced legal team at Steelman Gaunt Crowley at (573) 341-8336 today.
FAQ – Paying Medical Bills After a Car Accident Q: Who covers my medical bills immediately after a car accident? It depends on what insurance you have. In many cases, your own auto‑insurance policy (through things like Personal Injury Protection — PIP — or optional MedPay coverage) or your private health insurance will cover initial treatment. If you don’t have those, sometimes providers treat you first and wait for payment (or you may need to pay out-of-pocket). Q: What if I was not at fault — will the other driver’s insurance pay my medical bills? Eventually, yes — the at‑fault driver’s liability insurance should cover your medical bills and other damages. But payment typically happens only after fault is determined and the case (or claim) is resolved, which can take time. Q: What if my initial insurance (auto or health) pays for treatment — do I still get compensated later? Yes — but there’s often a process called “subrogation” or reimbursement. If your health insurance or auto‑insurance (like MedPay or PIP) pays for your bills, they may have the right to be reimbursed from your eventual personal injury settlement. That means some portion of a future payout might go toward repaying them. Q: What if the bills exceed what my insurance covers? If your injuries are serious and require extensive care (hospitalization, surgery, therapy, long‑term treatment), initial coverage might not be enough. In that case, you may rely on the at‑fault driver’s liability coverage — by filing a claim or lawsuit — to recover the balance plus any additional damages like lost wages or pain and suffering. Some doctors or clinics also offer to treat you on a lien basis (meaning they wait to be paid until you receive your settlement) if you don’t have the funds up‑front. Q: What are the common steps for handling medical bills after an accident? Use any applicable auto‑insurance coverage (PIP or MedPay) or your health insurance to cover immediate treatment. Keep detailed records of all medical treatment, bills, and related expenses. If the other driver was at fault, file a claim with their insurer for full compensation. If bills were paid by your insurance, be prepared for them to request reimbursement from any settlement (subrogation). If necessary, arrange with medical providers to wait on billing (lien), or negotiate bills to avoid large out‑of‑pocket costs while the case is pending.