If you’ve been injured in a car accident in Orlando or anywhere in Florida, you may be wondering how you are going to be able to pay for your medical bills and upcoming medical treatment. You’re not alone. Our Orlando car accident attorneys have helped many people who are going through exactly what you’re going through right now. It’s a horrible situation to be in. However, you have options, and you have folks here that are eager to help you. This storm will pass.
Insurance May Pay Your Medical Bills After Your Car Accident
The first place we look is at the available insurance coverage. Sometimes it can be confusing to determine what coverage is available and which insurance company will pay for your medical treatment. However, that’s what we do every day. One of our experienced Orlando car accident attorneys can help uncover all the available insurance coverage; help you go through all your options; and help you file your car accident injury claim. Below are some of the more common types of coverage available to people who have been injured in a car accident in Orlando, Florida.
Personal Injury Protection Coverage, also known as “PIP”
Florida is a no fault state, and all drivers on Florida roads are required to carry a certain minimum amount of PIP coverage as part of their auto insurance policy. The typical PIP coverage in Florida is $10,000 with a $1,000 deductible. We see this all the time.
The PIP coverage is basically a no-questions-asked amount of money that is available to cover your medical bills after a car accident. In other words, your PIP coverage is available regardless of who was at fault for the accident. You can use your PIP coverage to pay your medical bills up to your personal injury protection policy limits.
MedPay or Medical Payments Coverage
MedPay is similar to PIP coverage and is typically available in at-fault states, like South Carolina and Georgia. MedPay is not required by many states and is typically an add-on to an insurance policy. MedPay will typically cover medical expenses, as well as gaps in health insurance coverage.
The Careless Driver’s Insurance Policy
In Florida, the negligent driver’s insurance coverage may be available to cover your medical bills that exceed your PIP coverage. Unfortunately, in Florida, drivers are not required to carry bodily injury coverage. Typically, this is the careless driver’s bodily injury coverage. These policies typically range anywhere from $10,000 to $100,000 of bodily injury coverage. However, sometimes the careless or negligent driver that hurt you does not have any bodily injury coverage.
Underinsured Motorist Coverage or Uninsured Motorist Coverage, also known as "UIM"
If the careless or negligent driver that hurt you does not have bodily injury coverage, you still may be entitled to money through your own insurance policy if you carry underinsured or uninsured motorist coverage. Essentially, underinsured motorist coverage will cover your medical expenses in the amount over your PIP coverage if the other driver does not have bodily injury coverage. Because underinsured motorist coverage is the only available coverage in many auto accidents, we advise people to call their auto insurance carrier and ask about underinsured motorist coverage. If you can afford it, it's a great option. When you need it, you really need it.
Health Insurance
You may have health insurance through your job, or you may have some other private health insurance coverage. If this is the case, your health insurance company may pay your medical bills that have not been covered by PIP, bodily injury, or UIM. You may have to pay a deductible on your health insurance, but at least you may have coverage for some of your medical bills after your car accident.
Medicaid or Medicare
Similar to health insurance coverage, you may be able to use Medicare or Medicaid benefits to pay for some or all of your medical bills. Thus, even if the available insurance coverage won't cover all your medical bills after your car accident, medicare or medicaid may alleviate some of the financial burden for you.
Contact an Orlando Car Accident Attorney to Schedule Your FREE Legal Consultation
If you’ve been injured in a car accident, you need to focus on your recovery, and you need to rest. Let an Orlando car accident attorney from our firm fight to get you the compensation you deserve while you focus on getting better. We offer free legal consultations with a real attorney, not an intake specialist or some other customer service representative. All you have to do is contact us on our website or call us at (321) 352-7588 to schedule your free consultation with a car accident attorney at our law firm. We’re here when you need us.