After a car accident, the driver who was at fault is responsible for paying medical bills for everyone who was injured. If you were injured through no fault of your own, your injuries will probably be paid for by other driver’s insurance policy. If the accident was your fault, your insurance will be responsible for medical bills for everyone involved, up to the limits of your insurance policy.
How does fault and insurance work in Georgia?
In Georgia, fault is the deciding factor in who must pay for the injuries and damage in a car wreck. Usually, a driver is “at fault” because the driver was breaking the law or not following careful driving procedures. Legally, the term for this is “negligence.” If an accident is caused by speeding, distracted driving, tailgating, drunk driving or other unsafe or illegal behaviors, the driver who caused the accident is negligent and must pay for all the consequences.
Most of the time, the driver who is at fault has insurance, and the medical bills are handled through an insurance claim. Many insurance claims are settled through negotiations, without any need to file a lawsuit. However, insurance companies don’t like to pay any more than they have to, and you may need a lawyer’s help to negotiate a settlement that is fair and covers all your costs.
What kinds of medical bills can I recover money for?
You can recover ALL of the costs of a car accident that was not your fault, and that includes almost any type of medical bill, as long as the treatment was for an injury you had because of the accident. This means you may be able to get money for:
- Doctors, including surgeons, anesthesiologists and other specialists
- Hospitals, outpatient facilities, and rehabilitation centers
- Physical or occupational therapy
- Mental health treatment for mental anguish along with your physical injuries
You may also be able to recover the pay you lost if the accident left you unable to work, and money for pain and the way the accident has changed your life. Although no amount of money can erase the effects of a terrible accident, money can give you access to the treatment and services you need to cope and move on with your life.
What if the accident is partly my fault?
If the accident is partly your fault, you can still get a portion of your medical bills paid by the other driver’s insurance, as long as your share of the fault is less than 50 percent. However, under Georgia’s comparative fault laws, you will receive less money than you would have gotten if you had not been at fault at all. Your financial recovery will be reduced in proportion to your percentage of fault.
If the insurance company claims you are partly at fault, this may be a tactic to avoid paying you. If you don’t think you did anything wrong, talk to a car accident lawyer before accepting the insurance company’s version of who was at fault.
Is there a deadline to make a claim for my medical bills?
The deadline for making claims relating to car accident injuries is known as the “statute of limitations,” and it usually two years from the date of the accident. However, there are some situations where the deadline is significantly shorter. The deadline is important because if you miss it, you are not allowed to make a claim and recover money to pay for your medical bills and other costs.
The best way to protect your rights and make sure you get your claim filed on time is to schedule a consultation with a car accident lawyer in the Atlanta area. A car accident lawyer will look at the facts of what happened and tell you if you have a claim. A lawyer has the qualifications and experience to handle insurance companies and lawsuits, giving you the freedom to concentrate on recovery and building a life after the accident.
Talk to an Atlanta Car Accident Lawyer for Free
Our law firm only does one thing: we help injured people get the money they deserve. We’d like to help you too, and it won’t cost you anything if we don’t win you money. Let us give you a FREE consultation to show you what we can do. Call us at (404) 341-6555 or fill out the form to the right to get your free consultation today.
