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January 21, 2022 | Firm News
If you suffer an injury in a car accident, you have plenty of problems on your mind. On top of receiving and paying for your medical treatment, you might wonder if you will be able to get back to work. One question that you might repeat over and over is, “who is going to pay for everything?” Luckily, if you have auto insurance, some of your medical expenses will be paid, along with some compensation for your lost wages. Jared K. Newman is a Miami car accident attorney who understands that your insurance, however, is rarely sufficient to cover all your financial needs. Below, we discuss how medical bills are paid and how filing a personal injury lawsuit might be necessary.
if you suffered an injury in a car accident, you might be under the impression that the driver who caused the crash will have to pay all your medical bills. While that might happen, it is not entirely accurate.
Florida follows a “no-fault” doctrine for medical bills that result from an auto accident. Under Florida law, insurance companies are required to pay your medical expenses after a car accident. It is not necessary to prove another party caused the crash.
Motorists in Florida are required to carry at least $10,000 of personal injury protection (PIP) insurance. Additionally, they must maintain $10,000 of liability insurance for property damage. Depending on your policy, there is usually a deductible. The deductible amount is typically related directly to your monthly premium and could be up to $1,000 for medical costs and $500 for property damage.
PIP does not cover everything. First, it does not cover your total medical costs. After the deductible is paid, PIP will cover only 80 percent of your reasonable medical expenses. Furthermore, your coverage will only reimburse you for 60 percent of the wages you lost because of your injury. These amounts are capped by the amount of insurance you are carrying. If you suffer a severe injury, the PIP will be far from sufficient.
PIP has other fundamental problems in addition to the financial caps. Your insurance provider might deny part of your medical costs if it is determined that the expenses are not reasonable. In some cases, your insurer will dictate what doctor treats you. By retaining our Hallandale Beach car accident attorney, you can ensure that you have a say in the medical treatment you receive.
The monetary caps and the percentages paid through your insurance mean you will probably still have significant expenses to cover after a car accident. Also, depending on your injury, you could be out of work for months or years. Your PIP insurance will not make you financially whole. In this situation, it is in your best interest to contact a Ft. Lauderdale personal injury lawyer.
Florida drivers have the option of purchasing additional insurance that will go into effect after PIP coverage has been extinguished. Med-pay insurance is extra coverage that will pay for any medical expenses arising from an auto accident. This coverage is still limited by how much you are carrying and does not pay for other costs associated with your accident.
if your PIP coverage is not enough to pay your medical costs and you do not have any additional auto insurance, your healthcare insurance should go into effect. Depending on your health insurance, your medical bills should continue to be paid on time. You will still be required to make any co-pays or deductibles under the terms of your policy. If you have suffered a severe injury, these costs could rapidly grow.
You are entitled to be compensated for these out of pocket costs through a personal injury lawsuit. It is essential to keep a detailed record of your medical expenses and associated costs so our Hollywood, FL car accident attorney can request them at trial.
What happens if you do not have health insurance? In some cases, your healthcare provider might agree to treat your injuries under a letter of protection. A letter of protection is a contractual agreement in which your treating doctor or hospital agrees to provide treatment in exchange for a promise that they will be paid out of the proceeds of an insurance settlement or personal injury lawsuit award.
This is a risk for the treating physician, but if you have the representation of our aggressive and experienced Aventura car accident attorney, they might feel safer. You must continue your medical treatment after a car accident. Following through with your doctor’s orders is vital to your health and essential in building a personal injury lawsuit.
Not every driver in Florida has insurance to pay the medical expenses of those motorists and passengers can hey injure. However, many drivers in Florida carry additional uninsured motorist coverage. Uninsured motorist coverage goes into effect if the other driver lacked insurance or the insurance was insufficient to cover all your medical costs. You are entitled to sue an uninsured driver, but they often do not have the money to pay a judgment. Be sure to talk with our experienced Miami car accident attorney to determine if it is worth pursuing legal action against an uninsured motorist.
Florida drivers are offered various levels of insurance to protect themselves if they incur medical expenses after a car accident. Unfortunately, most drivers do not carry enough insurance to pay all their medical expenses, let alone other costs such as lost wages and pain and suffering. In many instances, an injured victim needs the services of our Hallandale personal injury lawyers to fight for their right to recover. Call Newman Injury Law at 954-495-8500 to schedule a free consultation to discuss your medical bills and a potential lawsuit.