Being injured in a West Virginia car accident is never an easy thing to face. Immediately following your accident, of course, one of the most important things that you need to do is seek immediate medical attention for your injuries. You will find that, once you have received medical help from your care provider or the hospital, the medical bills will begin to roll in. How will you start to handle these mounting costs on your own? Will there be help along the way?
It is normal to feel overwhelmed following an accident when the bills continue to pile up against you. You will start to receive a variety of bills, from the ambulance services you received to bills from the radiology department, hospital, physician’s office, and more. On top of that, you might worry about the charges you haven’t even received yet due to the fact that you will need care in the future, including therapy bills or at-home medical care. You might wonder how you can move forward and receive the help you need to take care of these bills.
How No-Fault Insurance Helps After an Accident
After a West Virginia car accident, you might utilize something known as Personal Injury Protection, also known as no-fault insurance. This type of insurance is meant to pay for your medical bills and keep you afloat after you have been involved in an accident. Typically, there are limits, however, which means that the insurance only pays up to a certain amount before you must take care of them on your own. It could also help you pay for a portion of lost wages stemming from not being able to return to work after an accident.
However, as mentioned, you will find that PIP does not cover everything after an accident. It will only pay a percentage of your medical bills and you will be liable for the rest. It will cover some “reasonable expenses,” such as treatments, surgeries, X-rays, or other scans or diagnostic tests that are needed after an accident. However, you must receive care urgently if you want your PIP coverage to help you.
Who is Responsible for Paying Bills as They Come In?
So, if PIP only covers a portion of your bills, who pays the rest if you are unable to? Unfortunately, an injured person is liable for their own bills as they come in if you are awaiting settlement after your accident. If you do not have your own insurance and PIP has run out, you might be left with the option of medical financing, which can sometimes help with the bills. Otherwise, you cannot hold off on the bills and wait for a settlement because it could be many months before you receive your money from the other party.
You must remember that the subrogation process might also take place. This happens when health insurance pays for your bills and, after you receive your settlement money, you are expected to pay back insurance with a portion of the settlement. Subrogation ensures that you are not paid twice for the same injury.
Why You Need a West Virginia Personal Injury Attorney
Following a serious West Virginia car accident, you will need an attorney who is knowledgeable in this process and can help you ensure that your bills are paid and that you are compensated for your injuries. Our personal injury attorneys at Katz, Kantor, Stonestreet & Buckner have helped various clients with their claims and will ensure that you are fully compensated after you are injured at the hands of a negligent party. Please reach out to us at (304) 713-2014 for more information on how we can assist you.
