How Do I Recover Medical Care Costs After A Car Accident?
By Administrator | | Personal Injury
Car crashes happen every day. According to a report from the Virginia Highway Safety Office (VHSO), 65,708 people were injured in traffic collisions in the commonwealth in 2019 alone. A serious car accident can result in serious injuries—and major medical bills. This raises an important question: How do you recover financial compensation for medical care after a car crash? Here, our Hillsville car accident lawyers explain the most important things you should know about bringing a claim for medical expenses and other damages in Virginia.
Medical Expenses You May Endure After A Traffic Collision
The cost of healthcare is notoriously expensive in the United States. If you were hurt in a car accident caused by a negligent or careless driver, you should not be on the hook for your medical expenses. Your insurance coverage should step in to provide financial protection and the negligent (at-fault) parties should be identified and held liable. After an accident, you can seek financial compensation for the full extent of your medical bills, including:
- Ambulance costs;
- Emergency room care;
- Prescription medications;
- Medical equipment;
- Physical therapy; and
- Mental health counseling.
It is essential that you are in the best position to make a full physical and mental recovery after a serious car accident. Beyond your initial medical bills, a car accident settlement or verdict should also provide compensation for rehabilitative services and other ongoing costs.
Starting Point: Your Auto Insurance Coverage and/or Health Insurance Coverage
To start, you should submit bills to your own (applicable) insurance policies. Your car insurance coverage may include some form of Medical Expense Benefit (Medpay) coverage. If so, that coverage will kick in right away to cover your initial medical bills. Additionally, your health insurance coverage still applies after a car accident—regardless of who was at fault for the crash. Your own insurance policies can provide the initial support while your car accident claim is being sorted out. To be clear, this means that you can still file a car accident injury claim even if your own auto insurance policy and/or health insurance policy provided some early coverage for your medical bills.
You Can Hold The Responsible Liable For The Cost Of Medical Care
The party responsible for a car accident is legally liable for the resulting damages. All serious car accidents should be comprehensively investigated to determine exactly what happened. When liability is established, you can recover full and fair financial compensation from the at-fault party. If your health insurer covered any of your medical costs, they may be entitled to reimbursement from any settlement or verdict against the at-fault party. If you are facing any out-of-pocket medical bills, an attorney will ensure that you receive financial compensation to cover those costs. Note: Virginia is one of the few remaining contributory negligence states in the country. Under this harsh legal standard, you may be prevented from bringing a claim if you are found responsible for even a small part of your own accident. Protect yourself from liability by hiring a Hillsville, VA car accident lawyer as soon as possible.
You May Be Entitled To Compensation For Non-Medical Damages
Your medical expenses form the basis of your personal injury claim—but you are also entitled to compensation for other economic damages and for non-economic losses. Among other non-medical damages, you may be able to get financial support for:
- Automobile repairs or replacement;
- Lost wages;
- Diminished earning capacity;
- Pain and suffering;
- Permanent scarring;
- Long-term disability; and
- Wrongful death damages.
The more serious your accident, the more important it is to consult with a top-rated Virginia car accident lawyer before giving a statement to the insurance company. Your attorney will take proactive steps to ensure that you are in the best position to maximize your financial recovery.
Schedule A Free Consultation With A Top-Rated Virginia Auto Accident Attorney
At The Jackson Law Group, our Virginia motor vehicle accident lawyers fight aggressively to protect the rights and interests of victims and their families. We hold insurers accountable for paying full settlements. If you have any questions about recovering the cost of medical care after a car crash, we are here to help. Contact our law firm now for a free, no strings attached review of your case. With legal offices in Hillsville and Wytheville, we provide legal representation to auto accident victims throughout the entire region, including in Carroll County, Wythe County, Montgomery County, Patrick County, Grayson County, Bland County, and Tazewell County.