Have you recently been injured in a motorcycle accident? If so, you may be wondering how you are going to pay for all of your medical bills while having to take time off of work. Until your claim is settled, your auto insurance company and the other driver’s insurance company will probably not agree on who is responsible for paying your medical expenses. However, as you rest and recover from your injuries, your medical expenses may continue to soar, leaving you in a stressful financial situation. You may be wondering whether your health insurance will cover your motorcycle injuries.
In Most Cases, Your Health Insurance Will Cover Your Motorcycle Accident InjuriesMost policies will offer some coverage for injuries that happen while riding a motorcycle. However, every health insurance plan is unique and the terms vary widely between plans. If you suspect that your insurance company is not covering medical treatments they should be covering, it is wise to reach out to an attorney who can review your insurance policy and advocate for your rights. The amount that your insurance company might reimburse you depends on your policy, deductibles, and copays. The majority of Americans need to pay a substantial out-of-pocket amount before their health insurance coverage will kick in.
Additionally, it is unlikely that your health insurance will cover all of the medical care you need after your motorcycle accident. Health insurance will not cover your other losses, such as your lost wages and ability to earn an income, property damage, and pain and suffering. In order to pursue those types of damages, you will need to look to other types of claims for compensation, such as a personal injury lawsuit.
Medicare and Medicaid Coverage for Motorcycle InjuriesIf you have Medicare or Medicaid, the coverage may pay for your medical expenses. However, you will need to ensure that your medical providers seek payment from the future liability settlement instead of billing Medicaid or Medicare directly. When you go to the hospital after your accident, provide your Medicare or Medicaid information.
If Medicare or Medicaid pays your medical expenses, they can recover what they paid with a lien against your liability settlement. We recommend discussing your case with an attorney who can explain the intricacies of how a Medicare or Medicaid lien works and how it will affect your case. An attorney can also advise you on the proper way to handle such a lien.
What if You Do Not Have Health Insurance?Health insurance has become extremely expensive in the United States. Despite their best efforts, many Americans do not have health insurance, or they do not have adequate health insurance. People in this position may not be able to pay their medical expenses after they have been injured in a motorcycle collision. If you have been in a car accident and you do not have health insurance, it is important that you reach out to an attorney who can explain your options to you.
Pursuing a Personal Injury LawsuitHealth insurance and auto insurance may cover some of your expenses, such as medical expenses. However, motorcycle accidents can result in damages that exceed medical expenses. For example, if you have been in a motorcycle accident and suffered a catastrophic injury, such as a spinal cord injury or traumatic brain injury, you may not be able to return to work. A personal injury lawsuit is often the best way to recover compensation for all of your future lost income. Personal injury lawsuits are filed in civil court against the person or company whose negligence caused the accident that resulted in your injuries.
When you bring a personal injury lawsuit, you will need to prove all of the elements of negligence to recover compensation. For example, you will have to prove that the other driver's failure to use reasonable care caused the collision that resulted in your injuries. You will also need to show that the at-fault driver’s negligence resulted in damages. Plaintiffs in personal injury lawsuits can seek a wider range of damages than insurance claimants.
For example, personal injury plaintiffs can seek damages for property damage and non-economic damages. Non-economic damages include damages for loss of companionship, disfigurement, disability, and pain and suffering. When the at-fault party acted egregiously, plaintiffs can pursue additional punitive damages as a way to punish the defendant.
Discuss Your Case With a Personal Injury AttorneyIf you have been in a motorcycle accident and you are not sure how you are going to pay your medical bills and other expenses, it is time to reach out to an experienced personal injury attorney. Contact Arnold & Smith, PLLC today to schedule your free initial consultation.