Paying for Medical Bills After a Car Accident in Long Island

Getting injured in a car accident in Long Island can be a scary moment in your life, especially if you aren’t sure how you should pay for your medical bills—or if you’ll be able to.

Victims should know that they have a number of possible resources for paying their car accident medical bills, especially if they have a state-mandated no-fault insurance policy available. In some cases, they may be eligible to file a personal injury claim against an at-fault driver’s liability insurance with the assistance of a car accident lawyer in Long Island.

If you are hurt and worried after a collision in Long Island has left you injured, you can rely on the following options for paying your car accident medical bills. You can also contact a lawyer now to learn what legal strategies you have available.

Carner & DeVita has provided the services of a Long Island car accident lawyer to people in need for over 50 years. We can assist you in filing your claim and staying informed of your legal options. You can schedule your free case evaluation now when you call (631) 543-7070 or contact us online today.

No-Fault Insurance Claim

New York state law requires all drivers to carry a minimum of $50,000 in personal injury protection insurance, also known as a PIP policy or No-Fault insurance. This insurance covers your medical bills regardless of the circumstances of the accident, with few exceptions. These exceptions include driving while intoxicated, intentional injuries, or an injury that occurs during the commission of a felony.

No-fault insurance pays first for your car accident medical bills in Long Island even if your case is eligible for a third-party liability claim. It also pays for 80% of lost wages—up to $2,000 a month for up to three years—as well as $25 a day for reasonable and necessary expenses related to the accident.

Hiring an experienced no-fault car accident attorney can help you expedite your claim and maximize the amount of compensation you could receive from it.

Third-party Liability Claim

Drivers in New York are also required to carry auto liability insurance coverage. The minimum amount of coverage is $25,000 for injuries to one person and $50,000 for injuries to multiple people, per accident.

In order to file a liability claim against another driver after your accident, your case has to meet a few conditions.

First, the driver (or drivers) you are filing against has to be legally at-fault for the accident, usually because they broke a traffic law or otherwise made a negligent driving decision.

Second, your injury must be considered a serious injury under New York law. Types of serious injuries include:

• Bone fractures
• Significant disfigurement
• Permanent limited use of a bodily organ or appendage
• Significant limited use of a bodily system or function
• Substantially full disability for 90 days

Hiring a Long Island car accident lawyer can increase your chances of successfully obtaining the full, fair value of your claim. You may otherwise have difficulty proving that another driver was at fault or establishing that all of your medical costs were necessary and directly related to the accident.

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage

Sometimes, car accident victims are unfortunate enough to be involved in an accident with a driver who does not have insurance or flees the scene (a hit and run). Other times, in the event of major injuries, the driver who hit you may not have enough coverage to pay the full cost of your treatment.

Having an uninsured/underinsured motorist policy can provide money to pay your medical bills if you find yourself caught in any of these scenarios. Their ability to save people from a dire situation makes them a good idea for all drivers in Long Island to have.

Other Options: Paying Out of Pocket or Filing to a Victims Compensation Fund

In the event that you do not have PIP insurance or any other insurance available, you will have to rely on any medical insurance you have to pay your bill. If you happen to have a possible liability claim but not enough money to cover your bills immediately, then you will be required to pay your medical bills at the time of discharge until you can be reimbursed by your claim later.

Some hospitals may allow you to delay payment until your claim goes through, but be wary of signing these agreements without an attorney since they may be unfair.

Hiring a Long Island car accident lawyer can prove beneficial in any of these scenarios. Since your attorney works on a contingency fee, there is no upfront cost in exchange for the help they provide in filing your claim and backing it up with solid evidence.

Being hurt and having car accident bills may be scary, but you don’t have to handle it alone.

For a free consultation with an experienced car accident attorney in Long Island, call (631) 543-7070 or contact us online today.