When someone is injured in a car accident, they may be concerned about how they will pay medical costs while waiting for a settlement from the negligent party’s insurance company. Although it may be tempting to accept a settlement from the other driver’s insurance company early on to take care of medical bills, which many insurance companies are keen to offer, it is advisable to wait to fully appreciate the financial, physical and emotional impact of an injury before settling your claim.
Unfortunately, insurance companies sometimes prey on the fears of crash victims and their families by offering a quick settlement which usually is far less than they are owed. If you are injured in a car accident, it is advisable to seek legal representation from an experienced personal injury attorney before you talk to an insurance company to ensure you get a compensation you deserve.
How will I pay medical bills while I wait for a settlement?
The problem many families face is how to bridge the gap between receiving an insurance settlement and paying for medical bills that are due now. One option to consider is your own auto insurer. Many drivers can file a claim through their own auto insurance company to pay for medical bills immediately following an accident. Another possibility is filing a workers’ compensation claim if the car accident occurred during work.
If you do not have medical coverage through your car insurance company or the incident is not work related, it is sometimes difficult to meet your obligations let alone pay for unexpected medical bills, especially if you are unable to work following an injury. A good place to start is to make payment arrangements with your medical facility to make your monthly expenditures more manageable. Because medical care is costly, some will tap into savings, borrow from friends or family, or may even consider crowdfunding sites such as GoFundMe to cover costs until they are ready to settle with the negligent driver’s insurance company.
Whatever steps you or your family take, it is very important to save all receipts for payments made and retain copies of your bills. It is also a good idea to keep a journal documenting your experiences following an accident by logging appointments, time missed from work as a result of your injury or to treat your injury, the challenges your injury presents on a daily basis in terms of pain or ability to complete tasks or attend events and more. It is sometimes difficult to recall everything that follows an injury accident – there are many financial, physical and emotional hurdles to recovery. Documenting your journey may increase your chances of receiving full and fair compensation for you accident claim.
Don’t get pressured into settling an injury claim for less than you are owed. The minute you hire an attorney, the insurance companies know you mean business and are less likely to take advantage of you or a loved one by offering a low settlement. In many cases, an injured person will secure more compensation even after attorney fees when represented by an attorney so it is worthwhile to discuss your case with a personal injury lawyer to see where you stand. If you or a family member is injured in an Iowa car accident, we encourage you to contact Iowa car accident lawyer Marc Humphrey for a free consultation and evaluation of your case at 515-331-3510.
