Is the Insurance Company Obligated to Pay My Medical Bills after a Car Accident That Wasn't My Fault?

Insurance companies are supposed to cover your medical bills, but will do everything in their power to pay as little as possible.

Injury claims are handled very differently than property damage claims. While insurance companies are technically liable to compensate you for ALL your damages, they're under no obligation to pay anything unless compelled by a court order.

We get calls from people on a daily basis who tried to handle their own car accident injury claim, only to find out months later that the insurance company has denied their claim or will only offer to pay 10% of their medical expenses. Unfortunately, this far down the line, it's often too late for a law firm to help.

Most drivers have gone through the claims process following an auto accident involving only property damage, and that process is usually pretty straight forward. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said when it comes to personal injury claims. While they may act friendly and promise that your medical bills will eventually be paid, behind the scenes, they're actively working against you.

Their goal is to delay your claim as long as possible, while making you think that everything will eventually be taken care of. This is done for two main reasons:

1. To prevent you from thinking you need to hire a lawyer until it's too late to do so, and
2. To delay your claim long enough that you're more-willing to accept a low-ball settlement offer.

If you let the insurance company control the claims process, you're falling right into their trap. Attorneys who handle car accident injury claims exist for a reason, and many firms (like us) handle these types of claims on a no-win, no-fee basis. Our job is to handle the entire claims process for you, while ensuring that you are compensated for all of your related damages, including medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more.

If you'd like for us to look over your case, determine the value of your claim, and advise you of your options moving forward, call us today at (214) 651-6100 for a free consultation.

Recent news story highlights this common insurance tactic.

NBC 5 recently told the story of one Texas man who found himself facing an insurance company who refused to pay his medical expenses following an accident because "the bills were just too high."

After being hit by another driver who attempted to turn in front of him, the victim sought medical treatment and then filed a claim with the other driver's insurance company (Travelers). Within a month, Travelers had issued a check for his totaled vehicle, but his injury claim was another story altogether.

As his medical bills began to come in, the victim forwarded them to the insurance company as requested. Instead of paying them, the insurance company complained that the bills (which ended up totaling $6,439) were too high. Six months later, the victim began receiving debt and lien notices. The insurance company had still not paid a single penny.

After getting no answers from the adjuster, the victim and his father then reached out to local news outlets for help. The NBC 5 Responds team contacted Travelers, and like magic, the victim got a call a couple days later from the adjuster. Their bills would now be paid.

The importance of leverage.

While it looks like the insurance company dropped the ball in this case, you can bet that every move was intentional. Without the leverage of an attorney (or in this case, a news reporter), you are at the whim of the insurance company. Unless you can show that you are willing and able to file a lawsuit, they're simply not concerned about treating you fairly.

While most car accident injury claims never go to trial, showing the insurance company that you mean business by hiring a lawyer will almost always result in a more-favorable outcome. Not only will your attorney handle all communication with the insurance company, they can help calculate your total damages, draft a demand letter, and will help negotiate a fair settlement offer. If a settlement cannot be reached, your attorney will then file a lawsuit.

If you find yourself in a similar predicament, all we ask is that you discuss your case with a lawyer as soon as possible. Our Dallas car accident attorneys offer free consultations over the phone or by email, and we're happy to explain your options moving forward at no cost.

We're available 24 hours a day, and the best part is that our firm never charges a penny in fees unless and until we put money in your pocket. Call us today at (214) 651-6100 to learn how we can help.