Medical Pay Insurance is an additional or supplemental Insurance that can be added to your auto accident insurance policy. If have this insurance and are in an auto accident it will kick in to automatically pay the accident related medical bills of you and your passengers. This coverage can be used in conjunction with your other auto accident coverage. Some medical pay insurance policies will pay the bills for injuries which occur on or around your vehicle but not as the result of an accident. Medical Pay Insurance is not required coverage but it does make a great supplement to your auto accident coverage. If you are interested you should contact your insurance agent.
WHAT IS MEDICAL PAY INSURANCE?
October 19th, 2009
So You Have Been In A Florida Auto Accident…What Now?
October 9th, 2009There is no doubt in my mind that if you are reading this article it is because you are the type of person who likes to be informed before making a decision. That’s OK… me too. Deciding what to do after an auto accident is a big decision. There are 3 things you need to worry about from the start. They are; getting treatment for your injuries, getting your car fixed and making sure you can pay your medical bills. I suggest you address the issues in the order I have listed them.
So you are injured…where do you turn for help. If you did not go to the hospital to see a Doctor then I suggest you start by seeing your primary care Physician. Even if your Physician cannot directly treat your injuries, he/she can usually direct you to the type of Doctor you need with a referral. If you did go to the emergency room and see a Doctor then you should follow that Doctor’s recommendations and referrals. In most accident cases the injuries a minor. They consist of sprained or strained muscles which can be treated with physical therapy or Chiropractic treatment. If your injuries are more serious you may need to see a Neurologist or Orthopedist. You should follow your Treatment Provider’s recommendations to ensure that you heal quickly and properly.
What about your damaged vehicle you ask? It is your duty to report the accident to your insurance company even if it is the fault of another. If you don’t you could lose valuable coverage. Your Insurance Company, your Lawyer or you may make the property damage claim to the at fault driver’s insurance. If the at fault driver does not have property damage coverage, or the coverage is not enough for your damage, then you can make a claim to your own property damage insurance. The insurance companies will send property damage adjusters to your vehicle for an estimate. They will usually send the vehicle to a body shop or mechanic as well. You may also get your own estimate if you wish. The estimate should then be presented to the applicable insurance companies who will usually agree to pay you the amount of one of the estimates in the form of a check written to you and/or your lien holder. If the car is totaled you will have to fight the insurance company for the full value of the car. Remember, if you don’t like what they are offering you, consult a Lawyer. Your insurance may allow for a rental car for the time it takes to repair or replace your car.
The final challenge is making sure your medical bills get paid. Every driver in Florida is required to carry PIP (personal injury protection) insurance. This insurance covers up to $10,000 of medical bills and lost wages. This is always your first choice for paying your auto accident related bills. Your second choice is your health insurance. Unlike PIP, you have to pay your health insurance back from you settlement at the end of your case. This is called subrogation. Your Lawyer can issue a Letter of Protection to your Health Care Providers which says if they take care of you now that they will get paid when you recover from the at fault driver’s insurance.
In closing I would like to say that I always recommend getting a Lawyer. A good Injury Lawyer will guide you through the process and ensure that you make informed decisions. The Lawyer can also help manage your medical bills and in many instances reduce them. The are hundreds of studies out there that show that Injury Attorneys recover enough money to cover their fees and still put more money in your pocket than you can by yourself. Most Injury Attorneys work on a contingency fee which means if you don’t win you don’t have to pay them.
WHICH INSURANCE SHOULD YOU USE TO PAY YOUR AUTO ACCIDENT MEDICAL BILLS?
October 5th, 2009There are several types of insurance that you can use to pay your bills in an auto accident case. Each type of insurance has pros and cons when being used in an accident claim. It is important to consider all of the below listed factors before making your decision.
Personal Injury Protection (PIP) is the most common insurance upon which auto accident injury claims are made. In Florida, a no-fault state, every motorist is required to have PIP. Typical PIP coverage will pay 80% of your accident related medical bills up to the policy limit. Most PIP policies have a $10,000 limit per accident. PIP can also be used to pay up to 60% of your accident related lost wages. Once PIP is exhausted you will need to find a way to pay the 20% outstanding as well as your bills over and above the $10,000. Your Accident Attorney can advise you on this.
Bodily Injury Liability Insurance (BI) is optional coverage which is used to pay the medical bills of the person who is injured. A Tampa Accident Attorney will prepare and file a claim for the bodily injury limits of the person who injured you. This usually happens after your Doctors write their final reports regarding your accident related injuries.
Un or Under Insured Motorist Coverage (UM) is also optional coverage which protects the injured person when the at-fault person does not have enough insurance to pay the bills. I think that this is the most important coverage you can have for your family. If you are in an accident with an under insured person this coverage could be the difference between thousands of dollars in medical bill debt and thousands of dollars recovered for your injuries. This claim is made by an Injury Attorney after all of the above listed coverage is exhausted.
Health Insurance should be your last option for paying your accident related bills. Be sure to ask your accident lawyer about using this coverage. If you use your health insurance to pay your auto accident bills you will have to pay your provider back from your recovery. This is called subrogation and it is the law in Florida. For more details on using health insurance for your accident case you should speak with a Tampa Accident Lawyer.
If you have been injured in an auto accident you should seek the advice of an experienced auto accident attorney. It could be the difference between winning and losing your case.
PRESERVE YOUR ACCIDENT EVIDENCE
September 28th, 2009If you have been in an auto accident you should make sure to preserve your evidence. A Tampa Accident Lawyer will want to review as much evidence as possible at your initial consultation. There are several types of evidence that you can gather on your own before you hire an Accident Lawyer.
First, you should take pictures of both cars if possible. Take pictures all the way around the vehicles but focus on the impact areas. Second, you should photograph the accident scene. Look for skid marks, view obstructions, debris and any cameras which may have caught the accident on tape.Third you should photograph your injuries and any damaged property. Finally, write down the names and numbers of any witnesses to the accident. This will give your Tampa Accident Attorney a head start.
What Kind of Car Insurance Should You Have?
September 25th, 2009Time and time again I talk to people who have been in an accident only to find out that their insurance is inadequate to cover their injuries. This situation is often worsened by the fact that the person at fault in the accident had little or no insurance.
Car accidents can cause injuries that cost hundreds of dollars to hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical expenses. Therefore, you need insurance that can cover those bills and then some. I reccomend that your car insurance policy contain the required PIP and property damage coverage as well as bodily injury and UM insurance.
Bodily Injury coverage is used to pay for the medical bills and injuries of someone who is injured by you in a car accident. I reccomend at least $100,000 in bodily injury coverage, but if you can afford it go to $250,000. This will help to protect you from being sued personally.
UM (Un or Underinsured Motorist Coverage) is the coverage that protects you, your immediate family and your passengers in a situation where the person who caused the accident had no or inadequate coverage. I reccomend that your UM coverage be the same as your bodily injury coverage. The minimum amount should be $100,000 but if you can afford it go for $250,000. Remember this coverage protects the ones you love so don’t let your agent talk you out of it.
The Florida Motor Vehicle No-Fault Law and Insurance
September 17th, 2009Â
Remember, everyone in Florida must carry car insurance coverage. The specific amounts policies cover vary. There is a required coverage that’s a must in Florida, the $10,000 PIP coverage. It may have a deductible or it may have no deductible at all. Hopefully you never need your PIP coverage. If you do have a deductable, remember having one can cause problems in receiving treatment promptly sometimes. All policies after January 1, 2008 will be amended according this new version of an old law. Not only that, but if the old policy didn’t have personal injury protection it will be rewritten to have it after January 1, 2008. The new forms, or rates, are in force on everyone’s policies in Florida. Check with your insurance agent to make sure you have proper coverage.
What to know if you have a car accident while visiting Florida and get injured
September 17th, 2009Â
      In Florida if you drive a motorcycle you are not required to carry PIP or personal injury protection insurance. If you drive any other vehicles it is required coverage in Florida. Even if you reside in another state it may be a good idea to have personal injury protection, for example if you hit a non-moving object like a tree. Check with your insurance professional to be sure and if there still is a question consult a personal injury attorney or auto accident attorney where you plan to drive.
3 Things to do if you’ve been injured in an auto accident
September 17th, 2009Â
Take action and…
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Go to the doctor or emergency room, regardless. Sometimes injuries can be severe and not feel like anything because of shock. Be safe and be careful by doing this first. Waiting can be bad for many reasons; one being your injuries can become worse by waiting to get treatment.
3 Things you never want to do after an auto accident…
September 17th, 2009Â
First, don’t try to tell yourself you are OK. You may feel fine and still be injured. Many times medical testing with X-Rays, CT’s or other tests can reveal unknown injuries. Some may be serious, like back injuries or internal bleeding. The internal injuries may have occurred in your accident and may be unknown directly after the accident; due to the likelihood most people have some level of shock after an accident. Auto accidents and the associated injuries are known to be complex.