Getting involved in a car accident can be an adverse experience for various reasons. After being injured in a car accident caused by another driver, many victims wonder how their medical bills will be paid. Are you currently facing medical expenses after an auto accident? You may be eligible for financial compensation. To learn more, read this blog or reach out to a San Mateo County, California Car Accident Lawyer today!
WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MY MEDICAL BILLS AFTER A CAR ACCIDENT?
You may have heard that California is a fault-based state. This means that after an auto accident, the person who is at fault for the accident is responsible for covering damages through their insurance. You must be less than 50% at fault for the accident in order to receive compensation from the other driver. You’ll also need to prove that the driver’s negligence caused the accident. Negligence is defined in court as when a person fails their civic duty to minimize harm to the public and consequently causes an accident that injures others. For example, if someone drives under the influence of alcohol and crashes into another vehicle, they would be considered negligent.
If you were responsible for the accident, you might be liable for other people’s medical bills. Most of the time, your auto insurance – specifically your personal injury protection (PIP) – will need to cover the expenses. If you don’t have PIP, you might need to rely on your health insurance. If the negligent driver’s PIP doesn’t cover all of the victim’s medical expenses, the victim might need to rely on their own health insurance or their uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage under their auto insurance.
HOW CAN I FILE A PERSONAL INJURY CLAIM FOR AN AUTO ACCIDENT?
After getting injured in a car accident that was caused by another driver, you should immediately contact a personal injury attorney who has your best interests in mind. You might not be able to receive coverage for all of your expenses unless you file a personal injury claim against the negligent driver. PIP only covers medical bills and not lost wages or pain and suffering, so you’ll need to take the negligent driver to court in order to win further restitution. You can win restitution by proving to the court that the other driver acted negligently which directly led to the accident and your subsequent injuries. A personal injury attorney can help you gather the evidence you need such as surveillance video, witness statements, hospital records detailing your injuries, and more.
Have you recently been injured in a car accident? Our law firm is here to fight for you to obtain the restitution you deserve! Contact the Law Offices of Allister R. Liao today to find out how a highly knowledgeable personal injury attorney may be able to help you.
