If a car accident has left you with injuries, chances are you have a number of questions concerning what happens next. How do you cover those unexpected medical bills? And is it possible to sue the driver responsible for injuring you or your family?
To help you get through this highly stressful time, here’s a look at ways you can cover your medical bills after a car accident in Nashville.
How Do I Pay My Medical Bills Immediately After the Accident?
If you’re injured in a car accident due to another driver’s negligence, you can often pursue a personal injury claim against the at-fault driver. However, personal injury cases can take a long time to settle, so you need a way to pay your medical bills in the meantime. There are four main ways you can do this.
1. Health Insurance
If you have health insurance, the plan should cover your immediate medical needs, so contact your insurer for help paying medical bills. It doesn’t matter whether it’s your own health insurance policy or a work-related plan – its purpose is to cover your urgent care needs, so start by filing claims with your health insurance.
2. MedPay Coverage
Even if your health insurance provides some coverage, you’ll probably still have to pay some deductibles yourself. What if you can’t cover the costs? If your auto insurance policy includes MedPay, it should cover the excess medical bills. Check your policy and contact your insurer.
3. Other Insurance Coverage
While all drivers are legally required to carry insurance in Tennessee, not everyone follows the rules. If you were in a car crash with an uninsured driver, or if their insurance is insufficient to cover your injuries, see if your uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage (UM insurance) covers the cost of your medical bills.
4. Temporary Relief
If you don’t have any insurance, it’s sometimes possible to defer payment for medical treatment until a later date—that is, after your personal injury claim settles. However, this may not be the best option for you, depending on your circumstances. You should speak with a personal injury attorney first.
Make a Personal Injury Claim
Since personal injury claims can take a while to settle, you should contact an attorney as soon as possible after a car crash to begin the process. You only have one year from the accident date to make a personal injury claim in Tennessee, so don’t put off calling an attorney to review your case.
If your claim is successful, you could secure compensation to cover things like medical bills, specialist appointments, physical therapy, and more.
Can I Make a Personal Injury Claim?
To make a personal injury claim after a car accident, you must show that:
- The defendant (the other driver) owed you a duty of care
- They failed to uphold this duty
- The defendant’s negligence caused your injury
Drivers are expected to act conscientiously to keep other road users safe. When they fail in this duty and injure someone as a result, it might be possible to sue their insurance company for compensation.
A personal injury attorney will review the available evidence such as the accident report, medical report, and photographs to advise you whether they think you have a claim.
What Compensation May I Be Entitled To?
The compensation you’re entitled to depends on the facts of your individual case. However, car crash victims can often sue the party responsible for losses such as:
- Financial losses caused by the accident
- Emotional pain and suffering
The types of financial losses you might sue for include:
- Medical bills
- Specialist treatment
- Lost earnings
- Reduced earning capacity
- Property losses
Emotional distress is harder to quantify, but your attorney can advise you on the level of compensation that might be available.