How to pay your medical bills after a car accident in Tampa
Posted By Darrigo & Diaz
If you are injured in a car accident in Tampa, you are probably concerned about who will pay for your medical bills. Even minor car accidents can result in expensive medical costs, which is why some people deny medical care after being injured in a car accident. But the good news is that in Florida, people who are injured in a car accident can pay for their medical bills either through their own insurance or the insurance of the person who caused the accident. Nevertheless, this doesn’t address how you manage your bills immediately after the accident. In this blog, we explain how to pay your medical bills both in the short-term and long-term after a car accident in Tampa.
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Understanding Florida’s PIP insurance policy
In Florida, all drivers are required to carry a minimum of $10,000 in Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance. Regardless of who is at-fault for the accident, you are legally required to use and exhaust your PIP insurance before turning elsewhere. PIP insurance pays 80% of accident-related medical costs, up to the $10,000 PIP limit per covered person, for things like ambulance rides, emergency room visits, doctor appointments, treatments, and more. However, you must receive initial care within 14 days of an accident for medical expenses to be covered.
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PIP insurance vs. health insurance
After a car accident in Tampa, you can use both your PIP insurance and health insurance. However, health insurance will likely not pay for things like lost wages, services you can no longer do and death benefits. This makes PIP insurance a bit more flexible than most health insurance.
PIP insurance is also good to use if you have a high-deductible with your health insurance. With PIP, $1,000 is the most you’ll have to pay for your deductible in Florida. But if you hit your $10,000 PIP limit, your health insurance can be used to help pay for any additional medical costs.
It is especially important to contact an attorney IMMEDIATELY if you do not have health insurance that will cover your costs or if your insurer is pushing back on paying upfront while you seek compensatory damages from your accident claim. You do not deserve to take on the financial impacts of someone else’s dangerous behavior.
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Do you have additional insurance coverage on your auto policy?
In many cases, $10,000 is not enough to cover your medical bills after an accident. That’s why it’s a good idea to have additional coverage on your auto insurance policy. Specifically, we recommend all Tampa Bay residents carry under or uninsured motorist coverage, as 1 in 5 Tampa Bay drivers do not have insurance!
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Other ways to receive compensation for your medical bills
In addition to your own PIP and health insurance, there are other ways to receive compensation for your medical bills. These options are relevant if you are not at-fault for the accident.
The at-fault driver’s insurance company
In some cases, the at-fault driver’s insurance company will be held accountable for paying for your medical bills and damages. You will need to prove liability and file an accident claim. This is where hiring an experienced accident attorney will help you. Your attorney will represent you and make sure you receive full and fair compensation.
The at-fault driver’s employer
If the other driver was working at the time of the accident, you may be able to hold their employer responsible for negligence. For example, if a company pushed a commercial driver to work longer than federally permitted or failed to train their driver, they could be held liable for your medical bills and other damages after a car accident you did not cause.
Other third parties
Depending on the details of your case, another third party may be held liable for your medical bills. For example, a manufacturer may be held liable if you sustain injuries due to a tire blow out and the company knowingly allowed the defective tire to remain on the market.
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Injured in car accident in Tampa and worried about your medical bills?
Call Darrigo & Diaz immediately at (813) 437-5523
If you are injured in a car accident in Tampa, you should contact Darrigo & Diaz immediately. We are experienced car accident attorneys and we’ve dealt with many insurance companies and their adjusters. We will protect your rights. Our expertise ensures that our clients receive fair and just compensation.
We offer free consultations and you do not have to pay anything unless we win your case.
Call (813) 437-5523 now to schedule your complimentary meeting with our experienced Tampa car accident attorneys.
