Who Pays the Medical Bills After a Car Accident in California?

A car accident can have a dramatic impact on your life. After a car crash, you will likely have to deal with a mountain of problems. For starters, you may have suffered severe injuries that will take a long time to heal. Also, you may have to pay excessively high medical bills. These costs often include doctor’s fees, hospitalization expenses, medications, surgery, therapy, rehabilitation expenses, and much more.

However, if the car accident was not your fault, it would be unfair for you to have to pay for your own medical expenses and property losses. So, the question is: Who will pay for your short- and long-term medical costs after a car accident? Will you need the help of a car accident attorney to get the compensation you need? Keep reading to find out the answers.

California is an “at fault” state.

California is an “at fault” state. That means that under California Negligence Law, the at-fault party will have to compensate the victim for the damages caused by the incident. In other words, after a car accident, the other driver will have to pay for ALL of the victim’s medical expenses.

Because of this, the law stipulates that all California drivers must have a minimum of $15,000 auto insurance to drive legally.

If you would like to learn more about California law or would like to talk to a local car accident lawyer for free, consider visiting: https://legalfacts.org/car-accident-attorneys/

What are your options to get compensated?

To obtain compensation for your medical expenses and property losses after a car accident in California, you can pursue the following legal options:

•   File a claim with the responsible driver’s insurance company.
•   If the other driver’s insurance is not sufficient to cover your damages, you can file a personal injury claim against them.
•   If your insurance policy allows it, you may also be able to file a claim with your insurer for additional compensation.

Who pays for your medical bills before you settle?

However, reaching a settlement agreement with an insurance company, or getting a favorable verdict on a personal injury claim, often takes a long time. Insurance companies may try to delay your claim as long as possible with the goal of eventually getting it dismissed. Securing as much compensation as possible for your case usually takes time, but your injuries must be treated immediately. Therefore, you may have to opt for other sources of payment to cover your medical expenses until you are compensated:

•   Again, you could turn to your private health insurer.
•   A government health insurance program such as Medicare
•   If the accident was work-related, you may be able to obtain workers’ compensation benefits.

Keep in mind that a Los Angeles car accident attorney, like C&B Law Group, will not only help you get the money you need. They will also advise you on how to pay for your medical expenses, and they will guide you every step of the way.

Not enough money? A medical lien can help.

In California, you can pay for your medical expenses with a “medical lien.” A lien will allow you to repay once you receive the monetary settlement of your personal injury claim. In other words, you will receive medical treatment “on credit” while you settle your claim.

Not all California healthcare providers will accept medical liens. However, liens are usually accepted if you have no other payment method for your treatment or if your claim appears to be winnable.

In conclusion, the at-fault driver, or their insurance company, will pay for your medical bills. But while you wait to reach a fair monetary settlement, you may opt for different alternatives to pay for your immediate expenses. Furthermore, working with an auto accident attorney near you can make the entire process much more straightforward.

How to find a local car accident attorney?

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