How Are Medical Bills Paid After a Car Accident in New York?
Medical bills are often the largest expense victims face after an auto collision. When you get hurt and can’t work, how are medical bills paid after a car accident? Depending on your circumstances, there may be several ways you can get your bills covered, including filing an injury claim against the at-fault driver.
Who Pays for Medical Bills After a Car Accident in New York?
There’s more than one way a New York crash victim might get their medical bills paid after a wreck. The main options include the following:
- No-fault insurance, also called personal injury protection (PIP), which covers basic economic loss after a car accident regardless of which driver was at fault
- A claim against the at-fault driver when your injuries meet New York’s serious injury threshold
- Health insurance in limited situations, depending on the facts and coverage involved
- Medical payment arrangements, liens, or other sources that may help while the case is pending
Medical Bills and New York’s No-Fault Insurance System
Under New York’s no-fault insurance system, medical bills after a car accident usually get paid first through your own insurance. The system is designed to provide prompt payment for basic economic losses without requiring you to prove the other driver caused the crash. This means turning to your own PIP coverage after a collision before seeking compensation through other paths.
No-fault coverage generally applies to drivers, passengers, and, in some cases, pedestrians injured in New York motor vehicle accidents. It pays for necessary medical treatment related to the crash, along with certain other losses. It works this way even if another driver caused the accident.
The tradeoff is that no-fault rules limit when you can sue an at-fault driver for injury-related losses. To step outside the no-fault system and pursue a liability claim for medical expenses and other losses, your case must meet New York’s serious injury threshold.
What Does PIP Cover?
PIP coverage may pay for several categories of losses tied to a crash. While medical treatment is often the main concern, this coverage can also help cover related financial losses after an accident. Depending on the facts, your PIP policy may cover the following:
- Necessary medical expenses connected to the collision
- A portion of your lost earnings if your injuries keep you from working
- Certain reasonable and necessary incidental expenses
- A death benefit in fatal accident cases
PIP doesn’t cover every conceivable loss, and it doesn’t fully compensate accident victims for pain and suffering. This is one reason many severely injured people decide to pursue claims outside the no-fault system.
When Does the At-Fault Driver Have to Cover Your Medical Bills?
The at-fault driver may have to cover your medical bills when your case falls outside the no-fault system, which typically happens because your injuries meet the state’s serious injury threshold.
Dismemberment, severe disfigurement, permanent loss of or limitation to an organ or other body part, and permanent impairment that interferes with your ability to perform daily activities are some of the injuries that meet this standard. In cases involving severe injuries, you may pursue a claim or lawsuit against the liable driver for losses your no-fault benefits don’t fully cover, including unpaid medical expenses and future medical care.
Generally speaking, you’d access your no-fault benefits (as well as any additional medical payments coverage you might have) before seeking additional compensation from the at-fault driver. Your options depend on the severity of your injuries and the facts of the collision.
What Other Options Do You Have to Pay for Car Accident Injuries?
Depending on your situation, you may have other options for paying your medical bills. For example, your health insurance may cover treatment if you’ve exhausted your no-fault benefits. Medicare or Medicaid may also apply if you qualify. In some cases, a medical provider may agree to delay collection and wait for payment from a settlement or verdict. You may also have access to optional insurance coverage (such as med pay) that increases your available benefits.
How to Claim Medical Expenses After a Car Accident
In terms of how to pay for medical bills after a car accident, there are some steps to follow. The first step in seeking payment for your medical expenses involves identifying the insurance coverage that applies to your case. Start by opening a no-fault claim and providing your insurer with the information it needs to process the payment. Seek medical treatment as soon as possible and tell each provider that your injuries came from a motor vehicle accident.
While going through treatment, keep copies of your medical records and any itemized bills, prescription receipts, diagnostic test results, and referrals for follow-up care. These documents help link your treatment to the crash and demonstrate its necessity.
If your injuries are serious and your losses exceed the limits of your no-fault benefits, you may also have a claim against the driver who caused the collision. That process may require additional proof, including evidence of the other driver’s fault, full documentation of your losses, and opinions from your doctors about the types of future care you may require.
Deadline to File Insurance Claims in New York
Under New York law, you must notify your insurer as soon as possible and submit written notice within 30 days of the crash unless you can clearly and reasonably justify a longer delay. State law also sets deadlines for submitting medical bills (45 days) and wage loss claims (90 days). Missing these deadlines can lead to delays or denials. Because exceptions are limited and disputes can arise quickly, it’s important to act promptly after the crash and keep copies of all records, bills, and claim forms.
Get in Touch with Our Queens Car Accident Lawyers for Help with Your Case
If you suffered serious injuries in a car accident caused by another driver, you may be entitled to compensation for your medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and other financial and personal losses. Turn to The Tadchiev Law Firm, P.C., for the dedicated legal representation you need during this difficult time. Our Floral Park personal injury firm proudly serves clients in Queens and the surrounding communities with personalized legal support.
Contact us right away to get started with a free, no-obligation, fully confidential consultation.
About the Author
Simon Landsberg
Simon B. Landsberg is an associate attorney at The Tadchiev Law Firm, P.C. He focuses his practice exclusively on representing individuals and families who have been injured in motor vehicle accidents and due to other forms of negligence.