Medical bills are one of the most unpleasant things that you’ll have to deal with after a car accident. There are ways to get your accident bills paid, but the process is rarely simple or quick.
Meanwhile, as you’re trying to recover from your injuries, you’re also forced to navigate a confusing and often unfair billing system.
This article discusses the different types of medical bills you might face after a car accident in Alabama and provides tips on how to deal with them. It also explains how A Birmingham car accidenty lawyer can help you negotiate a reduction in your medical bills after an accident.
Who Is Responsible for Paying My Medical Bills After a Car Accident in Alabama?
Alabama uses a fault-based system for car accidents. In a fault system, the driver who caused the crash is responsible for your medical expenses. However, they (or their insurance company) won’t pay a dime until the case is settled or a jury hands down a verdict. Until that happens, you are responsible for your medical bills. This is true even if you were completely innocent in the crash. Despite this, injured people have several options to help them handle their medical bills as they wait for their cases to conclude.
MedPay
Medical Payments Coverage (MedPay) pays for medical treatment regardless of fault. If your auto insurance policy includes MedPay, you can use it for emergency care, ambulance fees, and more. MedPay typically offers anywhere from $1,000 to $10,000 in coverage.
Health Insurance
You can use your health insurance to pay for your accident-related care. However, your insurer may pursue reimbursement through a process called subrogation. Subrogation allows them to sue the at-fault driver’s insurance to recover the money they paid towards your medical care. But beware: Instead of suing the other driver, they may come after your settlement or verdict.
Medical Liens
Some providers will agree to a lien. In a medical lien, the doctor or hospital agrees to provide care now and get paid later out of your settlement. Medical liens can be helpful, but they can also significantly reduce the amount of money you get from your case. As such, it’s important to have an Alabama injury lawyer who knows how to review and negotiate medical liens on your side.
Common Medical Bills After a Car Accident
After a car crash, even a short hospital visit can lead to tens of thousands of dollars in medical bills. Some common charges in Alabama accidents include
- Ambulance transport
- Emergency room care
- Hospital stays
- Surgeries and other procedures
- Appointments with specialists such as orthopedic doctors and neurologists
- Physical therapy and rehabilitation
- Prescription and over-the-counter medications
- Medical equipment (e.g., crutches and wheelchairs)
How a Lawyer Can Help Reduce Medical Bills
A Birmingham personal injury attorney can help you manage your medical bills after an accident. Your attorney can:
- Communicate with Providers to Stop Collections: Your attorney should immediately notify your medical providers that you are represented and pursuing a claim. This move notifies them that they should not send your bills to collections while the case is being resolved. This move can save your credit and reduce your stress.
- Coordinate Medical Liens: If you don’t have insurance or can’t afford treatment, your Alabama injury attorney can negotiate a fair lien agreement on your behalf.
- Dispute Excessive Charges: Some hospitals inflate accident victims’ medical charges. An experienced lawyer will scrutinize every line of your medical bills and dispute any unreasonable charges. If a bill is higher than the customary rate in your area, your attorney can convince the provider to reduce the amount.
- Negotiate Final Payments: After your case settles, your attorney should go back to each provider and try to negotiate their balance down. For example, if a hospital is owed $10,000 but you only recovered $25,000, your attorney may be able to persuade the hospital to settle for less. A $5,000 final bill would allow you to keep more of your settlement. The same process applies to reimbursement claims through liens or subrogation.
When to Call a Car Accident Lawyer
If you’re dealing with medical bills after a crash, you should call a lawyer immediately if
- The at-fault driver’s insurance is delaying or denying payment,
- You don’t have MedPay or health insurance,
- You’re being asked to sign a lien or reimbursement agreement, or
- Your bills are piling up and you don’t know what to do next.
Get Help Dealing with Medical Bills After Your Accident
Dealing with medical bills after an Alabama car accident can be overwhelming. Fortunately, you don’t have to face it alone. A good personal injury attorney doesn’t just fight for a settlement — they fight to make sure your medical bills don’t swallow your recovery. An experienced Birmingham accident attorney can help you by negotiating liens and working to get your medical bills reduced.
At Collins Law, LLC, we’ll fight for you to keep every dollar that you can. Our team prides itself on going the extra mile to negotiate medical bills — even when that means we earn less. Why? Because we believe in putting people before profits. You’ve already been through enough. We’re here to make sure your recovery — physical and financial — comes first. If you need help dealing with medical bills after an Alabama accident, contact Collins Law. Call 205-588-1411 or use our website’s online scheduling tool to schedule a free consultation.
