Tips For El Paso Motorists For Getting Medical Bills Paid After A Rear-End Crash

Fatal motor vehicle accidents in Texas result in $37 million in medical costs over the course of a single year, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Millions in medical costs are also spent by drivers and passengers who are involved in car wrecks but who survive the crash.

Since rear-end accidents are among the most common collisions on the road, there are many victims who end up paying large bills after becoming involved in these types of crashes. Whiplash is one of the most common injuries suffered in rear-end accidents, but other serious injuries could occur as well which require extensive medical treatment. Collision victims need to understand how they can get medical bills paid after a rear-end crash.

Tips for Getting Medical Bills Paid After a Rear-End Crash

After becoming involved in a rear-end crash, follow these tips for trying to get your medical bills paid:

• Determine what, if any, insurance coverage is available. Texas law only requires the purchase of bodily injury and property damage liability insurance. If you have only purchased this type of coverage, your own insurer will not provide any payment of your medical bills but might cover the bills of other crash victims if you are the person who caused the crash.
• Determine who is at fault for the accident. In rear-end crashes, the presumption of fault rests on the rear driver. It is assumed the driver in the back vehicle was negligent in not leaving enough space to react and stop his car before an accident happened. As a result, it is usually much easier for motorists in the car which was hit to try to get compensation from the motorist who was behind them. Drivers in rear vehicles could sometimes try to make a case for compensation from the front driver by claiming the front driver cut him off or otherwise caused the crash- but these claims are much harder to make successfully.
• Obtain evidence to prove your right to get medical bills paid. If you’re going to try to get medical bills paid from the other driver’s bodily injury liability insurance policy, you have to show the other driver was negligent or careless in causing the crash, and show this driver’s actions were the direct cause of injuries. You’ll also have to prove the extent of the injuries and damages. This means you’ll need evidence like police reports from the crash scene, eyewitness testimony, and medical testimony from doctors who can clarify the cause and extent of your injuries.
• File a lawsuit or negotiate a settlement with the other driver’s insurer. The insurer may be willing to pay a settlement to avoid going to court on a personal injury claim.

An experienced attorney can help you to deal with insurance companies and fight to get your medical bills paid after a rear-end accident. It is a good idea to speak with a lawyer as soon as you can so you can start right away in building a strong case.

Michael J. Gopin

Michael J. Gopin has practiced law in El Paso since 1987. Even after more than 30 years, he still remembers his first jury case. It was two weeks after receiving his license, when he represented a person whose life had been forever changed after being blinded in a work-related incident...