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Who Pays My Medical Bills After a Car Accident – Health or Auto Insurance?

You shouldn’t ever go without the help you need because you are fearful of not having the money to care for yourself.

If you have been in an accident in Missouri and are worried because you are injured but don’t have health insurance, then you might be tempted to forgo seeking medical attention – but that can be a huge mistake. If you have been injured, it is imperative that you receive medical services – even if you think that it is something minor. Those issues that sometimes appear to be “no big deal” can become a big deal if you don’t investigate. And if you don’t go right away to ensure that you can prove causation, then you may be out of luck if something surfaces later on.

St Louis car accident lawyer

How Insurance Companies Handle Medical Bills

Typically, your health insurance will cover your medical care costs if you’ve been in an accident. Whoever treats you will bill your medical insurance, and then your health insurance will work it out with your auto insurance company once you have either settled or you have been awarded money. The main thing is that it isn’t your concern who pays; it is something for the insurance companies to handle. What usually happens is if you are awarded money through a settlement or go to court and are awarded compensation, the insurance company will seek to recover what they paid.

What if I don’t have Medical Insurance?

Even if you don’t have medical insurance the hospital is obligated to care for you, so you should go to have your injuries looked at. It is illegal for any hospital to turn you away due to you not having insurance. Also, if the other driver is at fault, it will fall on their insurance to pay for your injuries.

Do I Need a lawyer if I am Injured?

If you are injured in a car accident, regardless of whether you have health insurance or not, it is imperative that you hire a St. Louis auto accident attorney. The good news is that auto insurance attorneys work on a contingency basis. That means that you don’t have to have the means to hire a lawyer to represent you. They only get paid if you are compensated for your injuries. To ensure that you get the medical care you need, you will need a lawyer in your corner.

What if I Need More than Emergency Care and Don’t have Health Insurance?

Most importantly, if you don’t have medical insurance and you need other treatments and procedures, your lawyer can help facilitate getting your bills paid and getting you the services you need, either by helping you pay until you can collect or through negotiation with the auto insurance company. You shouldn’t ever go without the help you need because you are fearful of not having the money to care for yourself.

Contact a St. Louis Car Accident Attorney

Don’t talk to an insurance claims adjuster before you speak with a lawyer. We can help you avoid making statements that may be taken out of context and later used against you by the insurance company. If you were injured in a car accident call our 24-hour attorney call center at (314) 361-4242 or fill out our online contact form for a Free Consultation.

Our firm handles all cases on a contingency fee basis. That means you pay no attorney fees unless we recover money for you.

Updated: August 10, 2018