What Medical Costs Are Covered in a Car Accident Claim?

Medical bills can really add up these days, and if you’ve been hurt in a crash here in Queens, NY, you’ll want to talk to a Queens car accident lawyer as soon as you feasibly can to make sure you don’t miss out on any coverage available.

What Medical Costs Are Covered in a Car Accident Claim?

No-Fault Insurance in New York

The first complicating factor for getting your medical costs covered is the no-fault insurance system here in New York. For minor crashes, the law does not allow you to bring a claim against the other driver’s insurance company, even if the other driver was entirely to blame. Your own insurance policy will cover your medical treatment up to the policy limit, and New York law requires every driver to have Personal Injury Protection, or PIP, as part of their auto insurance. The minimum required PIP coverage is $50,000 per person, but you may have more available, depending on your policy.The good news with this system is that you don’t have to wait to prove the fault of the other driver before you can get compensation and then have to haggle with their insurance company. However, your PIP will not give you anything for pain and suffering or the emotional impact of the crash. You’ll want to check your policy with the help of a qualified attorney, though, because some policies will cover a certain amount of mental health treatment so long as it’s linked specifically to the crash.

Your Health Insurance

If your medical bills exceed the PIP limit on your policy, your health insurance might pick up the tab next. This is fairly common for severe accidents with prolonged hospital stays or multiple surgeries. Generally, private insurers will start covering at the point where your PIP coverage runs out, but you will have to meet your deductible, co-pay, or out-of-pocket costs. Talk to a Queens car accident lawyer who can help you coordinate your benefits so that you don’t have any overlap or delays while various insurance companies dispute the numbers or the situation.

Pursuing a Claim

While most minor accidents fall under the no-fault insurance laws here in New York, there are some situations where you can bring a claim against the other driver. Your injuries must meet a certain threshold for “serious injury,” however. If you qualify as a victim with “serious injuries,” you can bring a claim against the other driver for all your medical costs, including past, current, and those projected into the future, and you can make claims for pain and suffering. The other driver’s liability insurance should pay at this point, though you will need to build a strong case with the help of your lawyer to prove that your situation qualifies and to show that the other driver was at fault.

Consult a Queens, NY Car Accident Lawyer

A car accident lawyer in Queens can review your policy, handle the paperwork, and negotiate with insurers to make sure you’re getting all the benefits you’re entitled to. Reach out to Bardizbanian & Associates, P.C. in Queens, NY now for a free consultation to discuss your options.

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