The ambulance arrives.
You go to the emergency room.
Doctors order X-rays, CT scans, or other diagnostic testing.
Then come follow-up appointments, prescriptions, physical therapy, and possibly treatment from specialists.
Before long, the bills begin arriving.
For many accident victims, this creates one of the most stressful questions following a collision:
Who is going to pay for all of this?
Unfortunately, there is not one universal answer to who pays medical bills after a crash.
How medical expenses are handled after a California car accident can depend on several factors, including available insurance coverage, the circumstances of the collision, the healthcare providers involved, and whether another party may ultimately be legally responsible for the accident.
The important thing is not to panic when the first bill arrives.
Our earlier article on who will pay your medical bills after an accident covers the general rules. This one walks through what California car accident victims can do while the bills are arriving.
Medical Treatment and an Injury Claim Are Two Different Processes
One common misunderstanding is that if another driver caused the collision, that driver’s insurance company will immediately begin paying every medical bill as it arrives.
The process is not always that simple.
Medical providers may bill available health insurance or other applicable coverage while an injury claim is still being investigated.
Meanwhile, the liability insurance company may be evaluating:
- How the accident happened
- Who was responsible
- The nature of the injuries
- Medical treatment
- Available insurance coverage
- Other claimed losses
A personal injury claim may eventually seek compensation for qualifying medical expenses and other losses, but that does not necessarily mean every bill will be paid immediately by the other driver’s insurance company.
Understanding this distinction can help accident victims better prepare for the process.
Do Not Avoid Necessary Medical Care Simply Because You Are Worried About the Bill
After an accident, some people avoid medical treatment because they are worried about cost.
That can create two separate concerns.
First and most importantly, delaying appropriate medical care could affect your health.
Second, a significant gap between the accident and medical treatment may create questions about the nature of the injury and when symptoms developed.
Your medical decisions should be based on appropriate healthcare guidance.
If you are experiencing symptoms following a collision, seek appropriate medical attention and explain accurately what happened.
Keep Every Medical Bill and Statement
After a serious accident, paperwork can accumulate quickly.
Do not throw it away.
Create a physical or digital folder specifically for accident-related medical information.
Consider keeping:
- Emergency room bills
- Ambulance bills
- Physician statements
- Hospital statements
- Physical therapy bills
- Prescription receipts
- Diagnostic imaging bills
- Specialist bills
- Health insurance explanations of benefits
- Out-of-pocket receipts
- Medical correspondence
Keeping these documents organized can make it easier to understand the financial impact of the accident.
What About Health Insurance? Who Pays Medical Bills in the Meantime
If you have health insurance, it may play a role in paying for medical treatment after an accident, depending on your coverage and circumstances.
However, insurance and reimbursement issues can become complicated.
In some situations, an insurer or another entity that paid accident-related medical expenses may later assert a right to reimbursement from money recovered in an injury claim.
Hospitals can, too. Under California Civil Code section 3045.1, a hospital that provides emergency and ongoing care to someone injured in an accident can hold a lien on the damages that person recovers from the party responsible, up to the reasonable and necessary charges for that care.
This is one reason the final amount of an injury settlement should not be viewed simply as:
Settlement amount = money the client takes home.
Medical bills, potential reimbursement claims, attorney fees, case costs, and other applicable obligations may need to be addressed before determining a client’s net recovery.
Every case is different.
Keep Track of More Than Just Medical Bills
The financial impact of an accident may extend beyond hospital and physician charges.
Depending on the circumstances, an injured person may also experience:
- Lost wages
- Reduced ability to work
- Prescription costs
- Transportation expenses related to treatment
- Rehabilitation expenses
- Property damage
- Other accident-related costs
Keep records.
If you miss work, document the dates.
If your doctor gives you work restrictions, keep a copy.
If you pay accident-related expenses out of pocket, save receipts when possible.
Small expenses can become significant over several months of recovery.
Be Careful About Settling Before You Understand Your Injuries
Medical bills can create financial pressure.
That pressure may make an early settlement offer look attractive.
But before resolving a personal injury claim, it is important to understand the nature of your injuries and the potential effect of accepting a settlement.
Once a claim is fully settled and an appropriate release is signed, reopening the matter later may not be possible simply because additional medical problems develop.
That is why accident victims should understand what they are agreeing to before signing settlement documents.
You Should Be Focused on Healing, Not Sorting Through a Mountain of Paperwork
After a serious accident, people may find themselves dealing with:
- Doctors.
- Insurance companies.
- Medical bills.
- Vehicle repairs.
- Missed work.
- Phone calls.
- Forms.
- Appointments.
All while trying to recover physically.
It can become overwhelming quickly.
At Khashan Law Firm, part of our role is helping clients understand the personal injury process so they can make informed decisions while focusing on their recovery.
If you have questions about who pays medical bills after your accident, ask them.
Do not assume you have to figure everything out alone.
Medical bills can quickly become one of the most stressful parts of recovering from an accident.
Understanding how your medical expenses fit into the larger personal injury process can help you make better decisions about your case.
If you or someone you love has been injured because of another person’s potential negligence, contact Khashan Law Firm for a FREE consultation. Our personal injury team can review your situation and help you understand the next steps.
Khashan Law Firm proudly serves clients throughout Ontario, Murrieta, Rancho Cucamonga, Temecula, the Inland Empire, Southern California, and communities across California. Hablamos EspaƱol. (866) 34-INJURED