Who Pays For The At-Fault Driver's Medical Bills?

If you are injured in a car accident, the at-fault driver is ultimately responsible for your medical bills. However, the at-fault driver won't pay immediately, and it can take months or even years to reach a settlement with their insurance company. In the meantime, you are responsible for ensuring your medical bills are paid. This can be done through your health insurance, car insurance, or other coverage.

If you have health insurance, it will usually cover your car accident injuries, but there may be some restrictions on what is covered. Your health insurance is typically considered secondary coverage, meaning it will only kick in if your car insurance coverage is insufficient.

Your car insurance may also cover your medical expenses, regardless of who is at fault. Medical Payments Coverage (MedPay) and Personal Injury Protection (PIP) are two types of car insurance coverage that can help pay for medical expenses after a car accident. MedPay covers medical expenses for you and your passengers, regardless of who is at fault. PIP is similar but also covers lost wages resulting from the accident.

MedPay coverage

MedPay is supplemental to your regular health insurance, and it can be used to reimburse yourself for out-of-pocket costs that health insurance does not cover, such as copays or annual deductibles. It covers a variety of expenses related to injuries from an automobile accident, including health insurance deductibles and copays, visits to a doctor or hospital, X-rays and surgery, ambulance and emergency medical technician fees, rehabilitation and nursing care, and some medical equipment, such as prostheses.

MedPay is especially useful if you live in an urban area, as pedestrians are more likely to be injured in these areas due to the higher incidence of foot traffic. It is also useful if you are at fault in an accident, as MedPay will cover your own medical expenses even if your auto insurance policy is a no-fault one. However, MedPay will not cover you if you caused an accident due to alcohol or drug use.

MedPay is an optional coverage type in most states, but it is mandatory in Maine and sometimes New Hampshire. The cost of MedPay coverage is often quite low, and it can provide financial peace of mind in the event of an accident.

Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage

PIP coverage can include a range of benefits, such as:

• Medical bills for the policyholder and anyone covered on their policy, including when hit by a car as a pedestrian or while riding a bicycle.
• Lost wages if the policyholder or their passengers are injured and unable to work.
• Household services like childcare, house cleaning, or yard work.
• Disability and rehabilitation costs.
• Funeral expenses.
• Death benefits for the policyholder's family in the event of a fatal accident.

It's important to note that PIP has minimum coverage amounts and per-person maximum coverage limits. These limits are typically set by state governments and can vary depending on the state. Additionally, PIP does not cover expenses unrelated to personal injuries, such as damage to the policyholder's vehicle or theft of their vehicle.

When it comes to medical payments after a car accident, individuals have a few options. They can use their health insurance, Medicare, or Medicaid to cover their medical bills. They can also use Medical Payment Coverage (MedPay) under their car insurance policy, especially for out-of-pocket costs not covered by their health insurance. In some cases, individuals might need to pay medical bills upfront and then seek reimbursement from the at-fault driver's insurance company through a settlement, which can take a significant amount of time.

Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage

Uninsured motorist coverage specifically applies when the other driver has no auto insurance. On the other hand, underinsured motorist coverage comes into play when the other driver doesn't have enough insurance coverage to pay for the damages or injuries they caused. Both coverages are usually offered together, providing comprehensive protection.

In the unfortunate event of a hit-and-run accident, you can rely on your uninsured motorist coverage to file a claim and seek compensation. This coverage is especially important considering the significant number of uninsured drivers on the road. According to the Insurance Information Institute, nearly 13% of drivers countrywide are uninsured, and in some states, this number exceeds 20%.

• Uninsured Motorist Bodily Injury (UMBI): This coverage pays for medical bills for both you and your passengers if you're hit by an uninsured driver.
• Uninsured Motorist Property Damage (UMPD): This coverage pays for damage to your vehicle caused by an uninsured driver. Some states may require a deductible for UMPD.
• Underinsured Motorist Bodily Injury (UIMBI): This coverage takes care of medical bills for both you and your passengers if the at-fault driver doesn't have sufficient insurance.
• Underinsured Motorist Property Damage (UIMPD): This coverage addresses damage to your vehicle when the other driver's insurance isn't enough. UIMPD may require a deductible in certain states.

It's worth noting that UMBI and UIMBI generally don't include a deductible, which means you won't have to pay anything out of pocket before receiving compensation. Additionally, this coverage can be crucial if you have passengers who don't have their own health insurance, as it will provide protection for them as well.

While your health insurance may overlap with some aspects of UM/UIM coverage, it's important to carefully consider the specifics of your health insurance plan. For instance, Medicare and Medicaid may require other sources of insurance to be exhausted before they pay out. Moreover, your health insurance might have a deductible, whereas UMBI and UIMBI typically don't.

In summary, uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage is a vital safeguard that can provide financial protection and peace of mind in the event of an accident with an uninsured or underinsured driver. It ensures that you and your passengers receive the necessary medical care and that your vehicle repairs are covered, regardless of the other driver's insurance status.

Health insurance

If you are injured in a car accident, your health insurance will usually cover your medical costs, even if you are at fault. However, this depends on the type of coverage you have. For example, there may be in-network or out-of-network distinctions when it comes to care providers, or similar restrictions on what is covered.

If you have other car insurance-specific options (like MedPay or PIP coverage), these might save you money and hassle. Your health insurance will usually be secondary in this case, meaning it will kick in once the car insurance coverage limit has been reached.

Your health insurer will probably have a right to reimbursement if you get money from the at-fault driver's insurer, or from another source.

If you don't have health insurance, you should still seek the necessary medical attention after a car accident. Laws in your state may require healthcare providers to work with you on a payment plan, and you may be entitled to receive care at a reduced rate.

No-fault states

In the US, there are 12 "pure" or "true" no-fault states, and 18 states that require their drivers to purchase no-fault insurance, also known as Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance. In these states, if you are injured in an auto accident, you would file a claim with your own insurance company to pay for related medical costs, regardless of fault. This is mandatory in some states and optional in others.

No-fault insurance laws require each driver to file a claim with their own insurance company, regardless of who is at fault. This means that in the event of an accident, each driver's individual insurance company pays for their medical expenses. No-fault insurance is designed to help cover medical expenses and loss of income resulting from an accident. It is important to note that no-fault insurance does not cover everything. For example, if you damage someone else's property, you will need liability coverage, and if your car is damaged, you will need collision insurance.

In addition to the 18 states that require no-fault insurance, there are also ""optional no-fault" or "choice no-fault" states, where drivers can choose whether to follow a no-fault system. These states include Kentucky, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.

States that do not have no-fault insurance laws are known as ""tort states". In these states, the insurance company of the individual found to be at fault pays for all damage costs in the event of an accident.

Frequently asked questions