St. Louis Medical Bills Lawyer
So you suffered injuries in a car accident in Missouri. Now what? For most of us, we expect to go a lifetime without requiring medical care after an accident. But now that it has happened, where do you turn for help?
We are the personal injury attorneys at Bley & Evans, LC, in Columbia, Missouri. We talk to people everyday who don't understand the process for filing a medical injury claim for emergency room treatment or health care needs following a motor vehicle accident. Based on decades of experience representing victims of car accident injuries, we would like to give you a brief overview of how to get your medical bills paid after an accident.
Your health insurance
If you are fortunate enough to be covered by medical insurance as part of your benefits plan at work, or are paying for private health care insurance, it is the most efficient way to get your medical care paid for. Unfortunately, many private health insurance plans do not cover everything, or have a cap on the amount of medical costs they will cover in a calendar year. Emergency care and surgical procedures required after a serious car accident can easily max-out your coverage, leaving you faced with significant financial costs. If you carry private health insurance, it should be your first option for paying for immediate medical treatment. You are entitled to seek full compensation for uncovered expenses from the insurance company responsible for covering the driver responsible for the accident.
Your own auto insurance policy
Missouri is a comparative liability state. You are entitled to seek compensation from the other party up to the percentage of liability assigned to that driver's insurance company. Unfortunately, too many drivers are uninsured or underinsured and fail to carry enough coverage to pay the full extent of medical damages. Therefore, it is always a good idea to carry additional comprehensive insurance coverage on yourself (UIM), in the event you don't have private health insurance, or your medical bills are not completely covered. Bear in mind, claiming against your own UIM policy will mean you will be treated as a hostile claimant. You will be offered as little as possible in settlement. In addition, you will almost certainly face an increase in your insurance premiums at renewal time. You are entitled to seek full and fair money damages from the responsible party for all financial damages that arise from placing a claim against your own insurance policy.
The insurance policy of the liable party
If you were injured in an accident caused by a negligent driver, it is most appropriate that you seek compensation for your medical care from that driver's insurance company. This will mean dealing with an insurance adjuster who is paid to offer a low, quick offer, in the hopes that you will use the money to pay your medical bills that are piling up. It will also mean that you forfeit any further claim to additional money damages, if your injuries require on-going medical care, or you are unable to return to work. Do not be quick to accept a settlement. At Bley & Evans, we will help you find options for paying your medical bills, pending a full and fair settlement or jury trial. We can even point you to medical professionals who work on contingency of payment, following a settlement or jury verdict. You will not be pressured into paying your bills until your case is resolved.
Free Consultation · No Fees Unless You Recover Compensation · State and Nationwide
Call us with further questions you may have about paying your medical bills following a car accident in Missouri. From our offices in Columbia, we represent clients in communities throughout Missouri and the United States. Contact our office today to discuss your personal injury claim with an experienced Columbia car accident attorney. Wherever you are, you can reach us toll free at 866-920-4115 or by e-mail. We are available for a free consultation during regular business hours and by appointment evenings and weekends. We handle every case on a contingency basis, which means you don't pay any attorney's fees unless we recover compensation for you.
