If you have been hurt because of someone else's negligence, you are typically responsible to pay for your medical care up front. After you have finished getting medical care, your personal injury attorney will ask the insurance company to compensate you for the medical bills. In some cases, however, insurance carriers will pay for your medical care as you are simultaneously treated. This typically happens in two scenarios:
First Scenario
The negligent party may have a type of insurance coverage called "medpay." This provides coverage for medical costs and other out-of-pocket expenses for a specific location on a no-fault basis. In other words, it covers any accidents that occur at a given place and pays for out-of-pocket expenses like medical bills and wage loss. You do not have to prove someone else was negligent in order to get coverage. The flipside is that the coverage limits are usually quite small, like $2,500.00. This typically is not enough money to pay for major medical procedures.
Second Scenario
The negligent party's insurance carrier might admit that their insured is liable for your injuries up front, and simply agrees to pay for the medical care because they know they'll be responsible for it eventually. This is a rare occurrence because insurance companies often believe that denying liability at the outset is the best strategy. When they do agree to pay for the medical care up front, however, they are stuck paying for all of the medical care, as long as it is necessary. If they renege their promise to pay for the medical care up front, you may have a separate claim against the insurance company for breaking their promise, in addition to your claim against their negligent insured. Such a claim can add value to your case.
If you have questions about getting the negligent party's insurance company to pay your medical bills, feel free to contact our firm at any time.