QUESTION:

I was just in a car accident in Provo, Utah. Who is going to pay for my medical bills?

ANSWER:

When in a Utah car accident, your medical bills will be paid in the following priority:

(1) Workers Compensation.
If you were driving and at work when you are in the car accident, your employer’s Workers Compensation will be the primary medical care coverage provider. You will have to work within the constraints of the Workers Compensation system and most of your medical care will be provided for.

(2) Personal Injury Protection Benefits (“PIP”).
If you have a Utah car policy of insurance, the first $3,000 of medical bills will be paid by your own car insurance for all medical bills related to the car accident. These benefits are called PIP benefits. It is advisable to get more than the Utah State $3,000 PIP minimum.

(3) Private Health Care Insurance.
If you have private health care insurance, then you present your private health care insurer with a personal injury protection benefits exhaust letter. After you exhaust your car insurance’s first $3,000 in medical benefits, your private health care insurance carrier will kick in and start paying according to your heath care policy. You will need to call your auto insurance company and obtain an exhaustion letter and a medical bill payment ledger.

(4) Lien Based Medical Care.
After the first $3,000 in medical bills, you will ultimately be responsible for payment. Sometimes your personal injury car accident attorney can coordinate medical care on a lien basis. This is where your medical provider will provide medical care to you, but will not ask for payment until your personal injury cases settles. Again, ultimately you will be responsible to pay for all medical bills, regardless of whether they are on a lien, or not.

(5) Do Nothing and Devalue your Claim.
When you are in a car accident, not properly documenting your medical injuries is a terrible idea. Even if you have an out-of-state car insurance policy which doesn’t have medical pay attached to it and you don’t have private health care insurance, you should see a doctor and see a personal injury attorney. Any worth while personal injury attorney will be able to help coordinate some lien based medical care.
Doing nothing after a car accident will devalue your chances of adequate and fair compensation from the at-fault driver’s insurance company.

Conclusion:

Call personal injury attorney Jacob S. Gunter for a free consultation if you have been in a car accident. (801) 373-6345.