Catastrophic Injury & Wrongful Death
After a car accident, one of the biggest questions injured victims face is who pays their medical bills. Ambulance rides, emergency room visits, follow-up care, and physical therapy add up fast. Understanding how this works can protect your finances, your credit, and your case.
A common myth is that the at-fault driver's insurance will pay your bills as they come due. In reality, payment from the at-fault party usually comes at the end of the case, following settlement or trial.
If you've been injured, always get the care you need immediately. Emergency treatment, ambulance transportation, and hospital care can be expensive, but waiting for a settlement before seeking care can hurt your health, slow your recovery, and potentially weaken your case.
Workers' compensation insurance. If you were injured while working — such as driving for work — your employer's workers' comp insurance may cover your medical care, even if you were at fault for the collision. Notify your employer right away and make sure providers send bills to the comp carrier.
Private health insurance. If you have health insurance, use it. If you later recover money from the other driver, your insurer may request reimbursement from your settlement through a process called subrogation, but there are often limits on what they can recover. Medical providers also often accept discounted rates when insurance is paying.
MedPay coverage. Medical Payments Coverage is an optional auto insurance add-on that covers medical expenses regardless of fault. It can help pay deductibles, copays, or expenses your health plan doesn't cover. Like health insurance, MedPay payments may need to be repaid from a settlement.
Medi-Cal, Medicare, or supplementary plans. These have varied and specific rules with strong reimbursement rights. You should strongly consider discussing this with an attorney before accepting any settlement.
Lien-based treatment. If you don't have insurance, an attorney may help you find providers who treat on a lien basis — meaning they wait for payment until your case settles. If possible, avoiding lien treatment is advisable because the typically higher rates can significantly reduce what's left in any settlement.
Medical providers aren't required to wait until your case resolves. If you have an attorney, they can help notify the provider and try to buy time. If your account goes to collections, don't ignore the notice — share it with your lawyer immediately. Unpaid medical debt can damage your credit.
Don't sign blanket medical authorizations for the other driver's insurance company. Don't give recorded statements about your medical condition, especially if things aren't fully resolved. And don't accept a quick settlement before you know the full extent of your medical needs.
If you're dealing with medical bills after a car accident and feeling overwhelmed, call us at (415) 495-7800. We help clients coordinate care, negotiate liens, and work to get insurance companies to pay what they owe.
Free consultation. No fees unless we win your case. When you call, you’ll speak with a real person — not a call center.
Call (415) 495-7800