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.
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.
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 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 on.
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.
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.
