Auto accidents can be damaging in many ways, especially if you require expensive medical treatment for any sustained injuries. If you’ve recently been injured in an auto accident, you might wonder who will be responsible for paying your medical bills. To find out more about personal injury restitution in Pennsylvania, read this blog or contact a York County, PA Auto Accident Attorney today.
WHO PAYS MEDICAL BILLS AFTER AN AUTO ACCIDENT IN PENNSYLVANIA?
Pennsylvania is one of the “no fault” states meaning that a person’s insurance is automatically responsible for paying their medical expenses after an auto accident no matter who is at fault for the accident. So if you’re driving your car one day and get injured by a negligent driver, your auto insurance will still need to pay your expenses, not the negligent driver’s. The “no fault” rule does not apply to motorcycle accidents or commercial vehicle accidents. For accidents involving those vehicles, there are some circumstances where a victim can earn compensation from the person who caused the accident.
Most auto insurances have personal injury protection (PIP) to cover expenses in the event of an accident. However, PIP can usually only be used to compensate for medical bills, not for lost wages, disability, or pain and suffering. If recovering from your injuries causes you to miss work and consequently lose money, you’ll need to file a personal injury claim to earn compensation. Filing a personal injury claim is the only legal way to receive restitution from the negligent person who caused your accident. If you are able to prove them guilty of negligence in court, then you may be eligible for compensation for your pain and suffering, lost wages, and any medical bills not covered by your insurance.
WHAT IF MY PIP DOESN’T COVER ALL MY MEDICAL BILLS?
Most of the time, you’ll need to rely on your own insurance to cover your medical expenses after an auto accident. Your auto insurance will first cover as much as your policy allows. If you don’t have personal injury protection under your auto insurance or if your auto insurance can only cover a portion of the expenses, then you may need to use your health insurance to cover any of your medical bills. Your auto insurance may also ask you or your health insurance to pay subrogation, which is when your auto insurance asks for reimbursement for covering your medical expenses. Otherwise, you can earn restitution by winning a personal injury claim in court.
Have you recently been injured in an auto accident? Are you considering speaking with an experienced auto accident lawyer to find out your options? Ilkhanoff & Silverstein is here for you! Our law firm provides quality legal counseling to victims of personal injury accidents. Contact us today for an initial consultation with one of our highly experienced attorneys.
