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What If I'm Hurt in an Auto Accident?
1. Get emergency treatment if necessary.
2. Contact your own insurers (auto, health, other).
If you believe you are not at-fault, contact the other driver's insurance company at the earliest opportunity to begin the claims process. You will be instructed on next steps.
The other person's insurer will not pay your medical bills as they arise, but you may be entitled to a final settlement once the accident investigation is complete and all your expenses are known.
Save all receipts and records of accident-related expenses.
3. Arrange follow-up care or non-emergency treatment.
4. You are billed for treatment.
5. You are responsible for paying your bills:
Submit to your auto insurance carrier if you have medical payments coverage.*
Submit to your health insurer if they cover your treatment.*
6.a. If the accident was your fault: You are done with the claims process.
OR...
6.b. If the accident was the other driver's fault:*
Contact the at-fault driver's insurance company for final settlement. Be aware that others, such as medical providers, health insurers or attorneys, may be entitled to some or all of your settlement.
If the at-fault driver is uninsured, but you have uninsured motorist coverage, call your own auto insurer to discuss your final settlement.
*If you live in one of the few states with a "no-fault" auto insurance system, you pay for a mandatory amount of medical coverage on your own auto insurance policy. File your medical claims with your own auto insurance company first. Depending on your state's no-fault law, you may not be entitled to a settlement from the at-fault driver.
Download Flowchart (Adobe Acrobat PDF) 729 kb
See also: "How Medical Bills are Paid After an Accident"
How Medical Bills are Paid After an Auto Accident
When you buy auto insurance you need to think about what actually happens when you're in an accident and need to use it...
Updated:
February 28, 2007 1:52 PM
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