Dealing with Medical Bill Collectors After a Car Accident

Even though your car insurance policy covers your medical bills related to a car accident, it may not provide you immediate financial help.

When you are involved in an auto accident, you and your fellow passengers may suffer serious injuries, your vehicle may get damaged, and you may be liable to pay compensation for the damages to another car or injuries suffered by other drivers or passengers.

Dealing with Immediate Medical Expenses

If you are injured as a result of an auto accident, you not only suffer the physical pain but may also suffer financial losses due to medical expenses and loss of earnings. Even though your car insurance policy covers your medical bills, it may not provide you immediate financial help. While waiting for a car accident claim to settle, you will be required to pay for your medical expenses on your own. Unfortunately, it takes longer to settle any claim for injury, compared to claims involving only property damage. This is because car insurance companies usually conduct a thorough investigation before approving any personal injury claim.

Accepting the First Settlement Offer

If you request a quick settlement, your car insurance company may offer you a lump sum settlement amount to close the case. Whether or not you should accept the offer can be a difficult decision. If you do not have enough funds to continue immediate treatment, you may be tempted to accept the settlement amount. However, if you accept the settlement, you risk depriving yourself of financial compensation for any long-term or future treatment.

Keeping Records of Your Medical Expenses

You may need to submit all your medical bills and other related documents when filing a claim for personal injury compensation. Some documents you need to submit may include:

• x-rays
• prescriptions
• documents for hospitalization expenses
• documents for over-the-counter medications
• documents for emergency room visits
• ambulance bills
• physical therapy bills
• transportation costs incurred for visiting your doctor

St. Louis Car Accident Attorney

If you suffer a serious injury, consider talking with a St. Louis car accident lawyer from The Hoffmann Law Firm, L.L.C. We will offer you advice on how to arrange your medical expenses and help you recover maximum compensation for your injuries.