How Medical Bills are Paid After a Car Accident
If you’ve been in a car wreck, your mind is racing with questions and concerns. One of which is surely how medical bills are paid after a car accident. We’re here to help guide you.
The short answer: An insurance company will pay the first $10,000 of your medical bills in most cases in Florida.
Note: This is a short answer and will not apply to all cases. Florida law is complicated and many factors are in play. Please contact our office to discuss the details of your case for a more reliable answer. Reach us at 727-820-1688.
The Longer Answer
You may be familiar with the terms “No-Fault Insurance” or “PIP.” These insurance policies will pay all or most of the medical bills and sometimes other expenses, such as lost wages.
Personal Injury Protection – which we will call “PIP” – is the law in Florida. You can read it at: Florida Statute 627.736. This statute is long and difficult to read. To make things more complicated, other statutes are referenced and can change the way the statute applies.
The very basic gist (and this can vary depending on the details of your insurance policy and car accident) is that PIP can pay $10,000 toward your medical bills. PIP policies can pay 80% to 100% of medically necessary expenses. This applies to rehabilitative care, x-rays, MRIs, and even surgery.
Some policies provide an additional $5,000, which is called “Med Pay.” Some policies require you to pay a deductible to get the PIP benefits. Take a close look at your insurance policy to see what coverage it offers.
PIP policies can cover a wide range of people who are in an accident, including:
- Relatives residing in the same household
- Persons operating the insured motor vehicle
- Passengers in the motor vehicle, and
- Persons struck by the motor vehicle
Pedestrians and bicyclists struck by a car may use the PIP policy that insured the car. There are some exceptions that would preclude the pedestrian or cyclist from using the car’s PIP Policy.
The insurance companies can – and they do – prevent PIP benefits from being paid to the people they insure. For example, the insurance company will refuse to pay PIP benefits unless you see a doctor within 14 days of the crash. If you’ve been in a car accident in Florida, call our office immediately to discuss how your medical bills are paid after a car accident at 727-820-1688.