One of the most important things that anyone can do after an accident occurs is seek medical care. However, individuals may be hesitant to seek medical care if they do not have auto insurance or traditional healthcare insurance. Here, we want to discuss medical treatment options after an accident when you do not have insurance. There may be options, particularly if the accident was caused by the actions of another driver.
In Colorado, if the other driver was at fault for the accident, it is very likely that they will have to pay compensation to the crash victim(s). Colorado is a fault-based state when it comes to vehicle accidents, and every driver is mandated to carry a certain amount of insurance. So long as the other driver was not operating well and insured, the crash victim should be able to file a claim and recover compensation for their medical bills.
Currently, all drivers in Colorado are required to carry at least $25,000 in bodily injury liability coverage per person and $50,000 per accident.
In the event the other driver’s insurance carrier refuses to offer a fair amount for your medical bills, you may need to file a civil personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault party to recover the compensation you are entitled to.
If you are at fault in an accident, it may be more challenging to recover compensation for your losses. Even if you are legally insured to operate a vehicle, you cannot use your own bodily injury liability coverage if you caused the accident. However, you can pay for medical payments coverage MedPay as part of your insurance policy, though this insurance is not required under Colorado law. MedPay, if you carry it, is designed to pay for your own medical expenses regardless of who caused the accident.
If you do not have medical payments coverage, then you will be responsible for paying your own medical expenses out of your own pocket.
If you are awaiting an insurance settlement from an at-fault driver after an accident, there could be a delay in recovering this compensation. This delay could take a few weeks, a few months, or even more than a year for complicated claims. This can put car accident victims in a difficult spot in the meantime.
Medical bills will most certainly start coming in almost immediately, and you will be responsible for payments or making payments on these until you recover compensation. In many cases, your insurance carrier will cover the expenses as they seek compensation from the other driver’s insurance carrier.
If you have an active lawsuit going against the other driver, you and your Denver car accident attorney may be able to speak to the medical providers and ask them to continue to provide coverage with the understanding that they will receive payment out of any final settlement or jury verdict. The medical professional may place a medical lien on any final settlement. This just means that they are entitled to payment out of the final amount before you receive any compensation.
