One of the most common questions I hear from my clients is “does my car insurance pay my medical bills after a car accident.” The short answer is, yes – at least initially. If you have lived or visited Florida for some time, you already know that we have some of the most dangerous roads and drivers. Every day people are injured in Florida car accidents. The reasons for the accidents vary, however many times the crash boils down to one of two things – distracted driving or impatience. Regardless of the reason for the crash, oftentimes the results are the same. Victims who did nothing wrong are hurt and need medical attention.

If you are a victim of a car accident, its perfectly normal to think “who pays for my medical bills after a car accident?” The answer to this question is a two-step process. The first step: In order to operate a vehicle lawfully in Florida, Florida drivers have to carry Personal Injury Protection (“PIP” or “No-Fault”) insurance. While this article will not take a deep dive into this insurance, if you would like to know more you should click here.

However, what you should know about PIP insurance is that Florida law requires your auto insurance to pay your medical bills – subject to any deductible and/or co-pays. This means that until your PIP insurance runs out or is terminated, your auto insurance will pay a significant portion of your medical bills. The second step: Your auto insurance may not pay 100% of the medical bills you incur. If they do not, your bills may be submitted to your health insurance, or you may end up treating with a Letter of Protection (LOP). Regardless of which avenue you use, the incurred medical liens or balances remain owed by you.

This medical debt, along with any balances incurred after your PIP insurance runs out or is terminated, becomes part of the damages in your car accident case. These monetary damages are sought from other insurance coverages that may be available, including the owner or operator of the vehicle that caused your injuries. Outstanding medical balances owed to medical providers account for only a portion of the overall damages you may have against the at-fault party or parties for the injuries you incur.

If you have been injured in a car accident, it’s important you reach out to a car accident lawyer. At Presser Law, P.A., we have recovered millions of dollars owed to our clients as a result of the injuries they have received.