Several types of insurance may cover medical expenses after a car accident in Texas.
To pay your initial medical bills and those of your passengers, you can file a claim with your Personal Injury Protection auto insurance policy. PIP provides coverage of accident-related medical expenses and lost wages regardless of who was at fault up to the limits of the policy.
If your injuries are serious, you will likely exhaust your PIP benefits. As the injured party, you also may file a claim against the at-fault driver’s auto liability insurance if the other driver was deemed responsible. The at-fault driver’s insurance should be responsible for paying for the injured party’s medical bills after a car accident in most cases. You may claim compensation for medical expenses, property damage, and additional costs related to the accident.
Unpacking Texas Auto Insurance
In Texas, drivers must carry minimum liability insurance coverage to help cover the costs of losses they may cause in an accident. The minimum liability insurance requirements in Texas are:
- $30,000 for each injured person in the accident
- $60,000 total coverage for all injuries in the accident
- $25,000 for property damage caused by the accident
It’s important to note that these are the minimum requirements. Drivers may purchase additional coverage.
Other types of auto insurance policies also are available to protect yourself and others.
Personal Injury Protection (PIP)
PIP coverage provides immediate medical expense coverage for injuries that you, your passengers, and members of your household sustained in a car accident, regardless of who was at fault. Insurance companies in Texas are required to provide $2,500 per person in PIP insurance benefits unless you reject the coverage in writing. After an accident, you can file a claim with your insurance company to access your PIP benefits, which include reimbursement of lost wages.
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist
Although drivers should carry the required auto liability coverage on their registered vehicles, some irresponsible motorists drive uninsured. If you are injured in a collision caused by an uninsured motorist, you may need to turn to your own insurance for coverage of your accident expenses.
Uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage pays your medical bills caused by an uninsured driver or a driver without adequate coverage. You can use your uninsured motorist benefits if you’re in a hit-and-run accident.
Medical Payments Coverage
You may choose the option of adding medical payment coverage to your policy. Insurance companies are not required to offer it. Med-Pay pays your reasonable accident-related medical expenses and those of your passengers. It also pays if you’re hurt while riding in someone else’s car, walking, or biking.
Role of Health Insurance
If you have health insurance, it can help cover medical bills resulting from a car accident. Your health insurance provider typically pays for medical expenses according to your policy terms, deductibles, and copays.
After a car accident, it is crucial to file insurance claims, including health insurance claims, promptly. Insurance companies often have specific time limits for filing a claim. Filing a claim within the required deadlines helps ensure your insurance provider has accurate and up-to-date information regarding the accident and your injuries.
Delayed filing of a claim may raise concerns about the validity of the claim. Furthermore, some insurance policies may have specific provisions regarding the timeliness of filing claims after accidents. Failure to meet these deadlines may result in denial of coverage or delayed processing of your claim.
Understanding the Payment Process
Car accident injuries are painful and expensive. The average cost for three days in the hospital is $30,000, and a broken leg costs around $7,500. If another person caused the crash, you may have the right to seek payment for medical bills and other losses from their insurance policy.
Here is a breakdown of the payment process, potential out-of-pocket expenses, health insurance reimbursement scenarios, and the importance of maintaining documentation after a car accident:
- Direct payment from insurance to healthcare providers: Once the at-fault party’s insurance company accepts responsibility for your injuries and losses, they may pay the healthcare providers directly for the medical services you received after a car accident. If the at-fault party doesn’t have insurance, your health insurance will cover the cost.
- Potential out-of-pocket expenses: Even with health insurance coverage, you may still have out-of-pocket expenses. These can include deductibles, copayments, or coinsurance, which are your share of the healthcare costs that you’re responsible for. The specific out-of-pocket expenses will depend on your insurance policy and the terms of your coverage. The at-fault party’s insurance should cover those expenses.
- Health insurance reimbursement scenarios: If another party is at fault for the car accident, you may be able to seek reimbursement for your medical expenses. Sometimes, your health insurance company may have the right to seek reimbursement directly from the at-fault party or their insurance company. This process is known as subrogation, where your insurer steps into your shoes to recover the costs they paid on your behalf.
- Importance of maintaining documentation: Keep detailed records of all medical treatments, including bills, receipts, prescriptions, and related expenses. Document any communication with insurance companies, including claim forms, correspondence, and dates of phone calls or emails, for a smoother reimbursement or claim process.
Legal Assistance and Its Benefits
As an experienced San Antonio car accident lawyer, attorney Troy A. Brookover can objectively assess your case. For more than thirty years, The Law Offices of Troy A. Brookover have recovered millions of dollars in compensation for injured clients. Attorney Troy Brookover has obtained six-and-seven-figure awards for clients to cover their medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. The law firm works on a contingency basis, so you owe us nothing unless we recover money for you.
Our firm’s founder and principal attorney, Troy A. Brookover, is Board-Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law and is a former insurance company attorney. This unique perspective as to how insurance companies approach claims is advantageous when negotiating with insurers for the highest possible settlement.
Importance of Professional Help in Navigating Payment Process
Insurance companies often try to settle claims for as little money as possible. Having a qualified personal injury attorney such as Troy A. Brookover guide you through the claims process prevents insurance companies from trying to take advantage of you.
There are other benefits to having an experienced car accident lawyer advocate for you:
- The attorney can negotiate with healthcare providers, seeking reductions in medical bills or setting up a payment plan to ease your financial burden.
- A car accident attorney can help you take legal action should your medical bills exceed policy limits.
Get Legal Help from Our Experienced San Antonio Car Accident Attorneys
Since 1991, San Antonio personal injury attorney Troy A. Brookover has stood up to insurance companies to get injured people compensation to cover their medical bills and other losses after car crashes caused by others. Get legal help from an experienced San Antonio car wreck attorney. Contact us today at (210) 226-2000 or fill out our online form to learn more about your legal rights.
