After any car accident, the main concern is whether or not you or anyone else involved in the accident has suffered any serious injuries. If there are injuries, then the next concern is how those medical bills will be paid. There is no way around it – medical care can be very expensive. And what happens if you cannot pay it? Keep reading to learn about auto-medical payments insurance to find out if it is the answer you might need.
If you have already been injured in an accident and you have questions, or you would like to request a free legal consultation, we invite you to contact Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707 at your convenience.
Generally, the At-Fault Party Pays for Medical Care After an Accident
In California, it is generally true that the person who was at-fault for the accident would pay for medical bills for those injured. However, if you are the at-fault party and you only have bodily injury liability insurance, it will cover injuries for others but not for you.
Or, what if there is another driver at fault but they do not have insurance, or enough insurance, to cover the extent of your medical bills? These are situations in which auto medical payments insurance can be very beneficial.
The Basics of Medical Payments Coverage
Also known as med-pay, most people do have auto-medical payments insurance. The most common amount is $5,000 but it can be as little as $500 or as high as $100,000. It means that whether or not you have your own health insurance, your medical bills will be paid right away by your insurance company. This is applicable no matter who is at fault, which means that you get coverage even if you were at fault.
Additionally, this type of coverage applies to anyone in your vehicle when the accident occurred, so if you had a friend or family member that suffered an injury, this coverage could help them too.
Insurance Companies Might Attempt to Recover What They Have Paid
If you are found at fault, then you do not have to pay this money back. However, if you are not at fault and you sue the at-fault party, the insurance company might attempt to recover the amount they paid. This is likely fair since the amount of your medical bills that they paid was likely included in the amount you were paid by the other party’s insurance company.
However, they do not always request this and it is not always applicable. The best way to ensure you are getting the maximum you are entitled to is to work with an experienced personal injury attorney who can help you. That is Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas. Call us now at 909-982-0707 to request a free legal consultation.
