Yes, health insurance can cover car accident injuries, but it may depend on several factors. Car accidents can cause severe injuries that require medical attention, resulting in medical bills that keep piling up as you worry about whether you have to pay out of your own pocket or if the insurance company will cover you.
Along with car insurance, your health insurance policy can also cover part of your medical expenses after a car accident. A Long Island car accident lawyer from Friedman & Simon, L.L.P. understands the ins and outs of the insurance industry to help you figure out if your policy covers your injuries.
- How Much Will Your Health Insurance Cover After a Car Accident?
- Could Your Health Insurer Seek Reimbursement if You Win a Settlement?
- How Can a Lawyer Help You?
- Is There a Deadline to File Insurance Claims?
- Learn More About Health Insurance Coverage For Car Accident Injuries Today
How Much Will Your Health Insurance Cover After a Car Accident?
Many health insurance providers will cover at least part of your medical expenses after a car accident on Long Island or the New York metro area. But it may not kick in until certain factors occur:
- You pay a deductible: Before your No-Fault insurance, which is insurance provided as part of your automobile insurance policy, begins paying out coverage, you may have to pay the deductible first. This amount is often the first $200-$500 of your medical expenses or another amount as agreed to in your policy, which were necessitated by your car accident Not every No-Fault policy has a deductible, (this is typically because you had been paying a higher premium.)
- Your auto insurance goes first: New York requires all drivers to carry no-fault personal injury protection (PIP), which covers a minimum of $50,000 in medical expenses. You may have more coverage than $50,000, depending on which policy you bought. But auto insurance is next in line to pay for your medical expenses after you pay an applicable deductible. It’s typical for your medical treatment provider to have you sign an “Assignment of Benefits,” so that they can bill directly to and receive payment directly from the No-Fault carrier.
- Your health insurance goes next: After you pay the deductible and your car insurance pays out (i.e., your No-Fault limit, which is typically $50,000, has been exhausted,) , if you still have medical expenses your health insurance will likely step in to provide additional coverage. You will still have to pay another deductible, but this is better than having to cover all of your expenses out of pocket.
- The other driver: You also have the option to file a claim and/or personal injury lawsuit against the other driver if negligence on their part is the cause of the car accident and your subsequent injuries and financial losses.
One of the goals of our firm is to avoid ever having to pay for your medical costs out of your own pocket. We will work to have your car insurance (i.e., No-Fault coverage), health insurance, and the other driver’s insurance should cover your expenses. A personal injury attorney from our firm who has experience handling car accident cases will be able to explain how the insurance process works and which policies will cover your bills.
For a free legal consultation, call 516-932-0400
Could Your Health Insurer Seek Reimbursement if You Win a Settlement?
If you file a personal injury lawsuit against the other driver and you’re able to prove negligence, you may see a jury verdict in your favor. You could also agree to take a settlement and avoid taking your case to trial. But it’s possible your auto and health insurance providers could try to seek reimbursement from you.
There are technical rules that govern when a No-Fault or health insurance carrier may properly demand and is actually entitled to reimbursement of amounts they have advanced on your behalf.
We strongly recommend obtaining an attorney who has experience with these issues so that you don’t erroneously pay sums you are not obligated to pay and so that your ultimate net payout is maximized.
How Can a Lawyer Help You?
A personal injury lawyer may be beneficial to your case. We will handle your case so you will be able to focus on recovering from your injuries. If you hire a personal injury lawyer from our firm to fight for you, we will:
- Investigate the accident and determine liability
- Gather evidence to prove negligence and support your claim
- Calculate the value of the damages that apply to you
- File your auto and health insurance claims for you
- Negotiate a settlement with the liable party and their insurer
- Be prepared to file a lawsuit and represent you in court
- Work tirelessly to win the best possible case outcome for you
We will explain and protect your rights so no one will take advantage of you during this process. If you have questions about the process, please feel free to ask. We want to help you understand how the process works.
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Is There a Deadline to File Insurance Claims?
You only have three years from the date of your accident to file a personal injury lawsuit in New York, according to CPLR § 214. If the deadline to file a lawsuit expires in your case, you won’t be able to pursue damages through the courts.
While the section of law referred to is applicable in many cases, an even shorter statute of limitations may apply to your case, depending upon the specific facts of your accident. We strongly recomend that you avail yourself to a free consultation with one of the experienced and dedicated lawyers of our firm so that you can fully understand the deadlines you are subject to and your various options for best protecting your rights.
In addition to deadlines for starting lawsuits and for various steps in the claim and litigation process, there is also a deadline to file insurance claims. Our law firm is aware of and sensitive to all the various filing deadlines, and when you retain our firm to represent you, we will make sure you are protected from the potentially devastating financial consequences of missing a deadline.
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Learn More About Health Insurance Coverage For Car Accident Injuries Today
Your health insurance policy may cover at least part of your car accident injury expenses but usually only after your auto insurance coverage runs out. It’s important to file a claim in a timely manner to protect your rights.
A personal injury lawyer from Friedman & Simon, L.L.P. will file your claims on your behalf and work to ensure you get the coverage you deserve according to your policy. We will also be prepared to file a lawsuit on your behalf and fight for the compensation you deserve from the liable party.
To learn more about health insurance coverage after a car accident, call for a free consultation or use our online contact form today.
Call or text 516-932-0400 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form