Anyone involved in a car accident needs to know their medical bills will be paid. Victims need help now. They can’t wait for a case to settle before they seek treatment. Early medical treatment often means the difference between a successful recovery and lingering or even permanent pain.
Many car accident victims are taken to an emergency room where doctors can help diagnose injuries and treat life-threatening conditions. They are generally required to treat you without regard to whether you have insurance. At some point, you will need to pay for the services – either through a settlement or jury verdict, or by your own health insurance and/or finances.
But what happens if you don’t have health insurance?
Tennessee requires that car owners carry liability insurance in case of an accident. This type of insurance only pays if you cause an accident to someone else. Liability insurance minimums in Tennessee are $25,000 for each person and $50,000 for multiple victims. Liability insurance also includes damage to a car up to $15,000 in damage.
If someone caused your injuries, you are entitled to have your medical bills paid, to be paid for lost wages, and to be compensated for your pain and suffering when the case is resolved through settlement or trial.
In the meantime, if you need follow-up visits, sometimes physicians will accept a letter of protection from you or your lawyer. The letter of protection means that if the case settles, or there’s a judgment in your favor, that the doctors will be paid off the top before you get your share.
Medical payments coverage insurance
If you caused the accident, or you’re waiting for your case to resolve, there is another option. Car owners can purchase an additional policy called medical payments coverage insurance. This policy can be used to pay your medical expenses up to the policy limits. Generally, policy limits are $5,000 to $10,000, though they can be higher. This means if you’re hurt in an accident and need to treat with a family doctor or a specialist, medical payments coverage insurance (also called MedPay) can be used to pay for your medical bills.
Even if you do have health insurance, MedPay can also be used to pay for your insurance deductible and for any co-pays.
If you do have a valid car accident claim because someone else caused your injuries, and you do use your MedPay insurance, then the MedPay carrier has the right to be reimbursed when there is an ultimate settlement or payment.
The Gladiators in Suits at the Rocky McElhaney Law Firm have the experience and resources to help car accident victims get justice. We work with your doctors and with independent doctors, when needed, to help understand every aspect of your medical condition including how much pain your injuries are causing. We demand payment for all your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. To speak with an experienced Nashville car accident lawyer, please call us at 615-246-5549 or fill out our contact form to schedule an appointment. Our offices are located in in Nashville, Hendersonville, and Knoxville, and we represent car accident victims throughout Tennessee.
