Who Pays for Medical Bills After a Car Accident?

Car Accident | July 23, 2021

Medical bills are often one of the greatest expenses after a car accident. A catastrophic injury can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars in ongoing medical care. Even a minor injury can cost more than your family is able to pay – especially on top of lost wages and vehicle repairs.

Knowing who is responsible for paying for your medical bills after a car accident can help give you greater financial peace of mind so that you can focus on healing from your serious injuries. If you need assistance with an insurance claim or injury lawsuit, consult with a Merrimack Valley car accident lawyer.

Your Health Insurance

The first source for medical coverage as the injured victim of a car accident is typically your health insurance policy. You will give the hospital your health insurance information when you seek emergency medical care. If your health insurance company accepts the claim, it will pay for your medical care up to the maximum on your health insurance policy, minus any deductibles.

After an investigation of your car accident, your health insurance company may seek reimbursement for what it spent on your medical bills from your car insurance company, the insurance provider of the other driver involved or another party. This is a process called insurance subrogation. A health insurance company may use subrogation if it feels that it should not be the party that is responsible for paying for your medical costs.

Your Auto Insurance

Massachusetts is a no-fault state. This means that regardless of who is at fault for your car accident, you will seek financial compensation for your medical bills and other losses from your own auto insurance provider. All drivers in Massachusetts are required to carry at least $8,000 in personal injury protection (PIP) insurance per accident. This insurance will pay up to $8,000 for your medical bills after a car accident, whether or not you caused the wreck.

The Other Driver’s Insurance

If you did not cause the car accident, there may be another option available for paying for your medical bills: the other driver’s auto insurance company. You will only have the right to file a lawsuit against another driver outside of Massachusetts’ no-fault system, however, if your injuries meet the state’s tort threshold:

  • More than $2,000 in reasonably necessary medical expenses
  • A bone fracture
  • Permanent and serious scarring or disfigurement
  • Loss of sight or hearing
  • Loss of a body part

If you meet the threshold, you can file a third-party insurance claim with the other driver’s insurer. His or her bodily injury liability insurance will pay up to $20,000 for your medical expenses. If this does not fully satisfy your medical bills, your own auto insurance company may provide supplemental coverage. You can also hold another driver financially responsible for death-related expenses, including final medical bills, if a loved one was killed in a car accident in Massachusetts.

A Third Party

If someone other than you or the other driver caused your car accident, such as the city government for an unsafe roadway, that party may be responsible for your medical bills instead. You can either file a claim directly against this party for a serious injury (outside of the no-fault system) or recover through your own auto insurer and let your insurance company use subrogation for reimbursement.

Contact a Car Accident Attorney

Determining who is responsible for your medical bills after a car accident in Massachusetts can be difficult. One or more parties may be held accountable for your medical costs. It is critical to fight for the financial compensation that you need to pay for your past and future medical care. Discuss all of your options for financial recovery with an experienced car accident lawyer for more information. Hiring a lawyer to represent you during an injury claim can guarantee that your rights and interests are protected.