The cost of a personal injury can be devastating. Victims can incur a wide range of economic and non-economic losses. Still, in many cases, some of the most significant damages stem from the cost of injured parties’ medical expenses.
If you were hurt as the result of someone else’s negligence in Chicago, then the person responsible for your injury can be held accountable for your medical bills. However, obtaining a fair settlement from the at-fault party can take a long time. You may need to have your own health insurance providers cover your medical expenses and then seek reimbursement after your settlement or verdict comes through.
If you need help acquiring payment for medical expenses, seek guidance from our experienced Chicago personal injury attorneys by calling the Rhatigan Law Offices at (312) 578-8502.
Options for Paying Your Medical Bills After an Injury
Medical bills are often expensive, and an attorney can help you review options for paying them.
At-Fault Person’s Insurance
In many injury cases, injured victims may file a claim with the at-fault party’s insurance to cover their medical bills. Whether this is possible may depend on how you were injured and whether insurance coverage is even available. This is a common method in car accident cases, although some at-fault parties might be uninsured, and you may need to seek out other options.
Your Insurance
You may file a claim with your own insurance policies if they offer coverage. If you have health insurance, it may cover much of your medical bills. You might also have persona injury protection (PIP) insurance that may cover you after an accident regardless of who is at fault.
Payment Plans
If you do not have insurance to help you, and the at-fault party is unable or unwilling to provide financial compensation, you may need to work out a payment plan with your healthcare provider. Hospitals often allow people to pay off their medical bills over time. In the meantime, you can pursue legal action to get fair compensation.
Who is Responsible for Your Medical Bills After Suffering a Personal Injury in Chicago, Illinois?
Determining who is liable for the payment of your medical bills will help you and your attorney decide which course of legal action may be best for your case.
The At-Fault Party
In Illinois, the party responsible for your personal injury may be obligated to pay for the medical treatment you require. Typically, compensation is sought from the at-fault party’s insurance company. However, acquiring a fair settlement or verdict can take a long time.
If the at-fault party is uninsured or refuses to cooperate, you may need to sue them and claim your medical costs as part of your damages.
Insurance Companies
If you have health insurance, you should use that insurance to pay for your medical treatment if the at-fault party’s insurer will not pay up front. After acquiring compensation, you can use the damages you are awarded to reimburse your healthcare provider for the bills they covered.
You might also have other insurance options, like PIP coverage, MedPay, or other policies that cover your injuries after an accident.
Medical Liens
If you do not have health insurance, then you may be able seek treatment from a physician with an agreement to pay your medical bills with the proceeds you recover from the at-fault party. In this case, the medical provider at issue may have you sign a personal injury lien.
The lien is a contract between you and your healthcare provider establishing that any money obtained as part of your settlement or verdict will be used to pay your medical bills before going into your pocket. Remember, if your case is unsuccessful and you do not receive financial compensation, you are still obligated to pay your healthcare provider.
How to Obtain Payment for Medical Bills After Suffering a Personal Injury in Chicago, Illinois
The process for obtaining payment for medical expenses stemming from your personal injury can vary based on your circumstances and available legal options.
First-Party Claims
In certain instances, you may have to seek payment for your medical bills by filing a claim with your own insurance company. For instance, if you suffered a car accident where the at-fault driver committed a hit-and-run and cannot be identified, you may need to pursue compensation under your own uninsured motorist policy. If you are unsure whether your insurance policy allows first-party claims, review it with your attorney.
Third-Party Insurance Claims
You may acquire compensation by filing a third-party claim with the at-fault party’s insurance company. Unfortunately, insurers are often reluctant to pay third-party claimants what they deserve. The other party’s insurance might contact you in the aftermath of your accident to try and entice you with a quick and cheap settlement agreement. Do not accept any settlement without reviewing it with a lawyer first.
Accordingly, it is important to consult with our Illinois personal injury lawyers before communicating with an insurance company. Our team can negotiate on your behalf and ensure that your interests are protected.
Personal Injury Lawsuits
If you cannot obtain a fair settlement from the other party’s insurance company, then you may need to file a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault party to acquire the damages you are owed.
There are several types of economic and non-economic damages that may be awarded in a personal injury case. However, for your case to succeed, you must establish certain key elements.
You have to prove that your accident was caused by the defendant’s negligent conduct. Also, you must demonstrate that you sustained injuries because of the accident and incurred damages because of those injuries.
How Long Do You Have to Recover Medical Expenses in a Chicago Personal Injury Case?
The time window for filing a personal injury case in Chicago is governed by 735 I.L.C.S. § 5/13-202. Usually, you will have two years from the date of your accident to seek compensation for the injuries you suffered. If you wait too long to file your lawsuit, then your case may be dismissed.
Despite potentially having two years to file your personal injury lawsuit, you should begin building your case right away. As time goes on, the evidence needed to support your claim can become hard to gather and preserve. The sooner you begin working on your case, the more efficiently you can collect the information needed to obtain payment from another party.
Evidence Used to Recover Payment for Medical Bills After an Injury
After suffering a harmful accident in Chicago, you can hold the at-fault party responsible for the medical bills you incurred. However, you must be able to prove that the other party is to blame. There are several types of evidence that can be utilized to establish fault in your case.
Witnesses
Witness statements can be highly valuable when seeking to prove that a defendant is responsible for your accident. Witnesses can provide both written and oral testimony that explains how or why accidents happened. For instance, a witness may state that a slip and fall was caused by a slippery spot on the floor.
Further, witness testimony may establish that a negligent driver caused a collision by running a red light. Accordingly, you should attempt to recover contact information from potential witnesses in the aftermath of your accident.
Surveillance Footage
Surveillance footage can be very useful when establishing fault. Like witness testimony, footage from surveillance cameras can help explain the events that unfolded before, during, and after an accident. Support from our legal team can be highly useful when searching for relevant surveillance footage in your case.
Physical Evidence
Physical evidence from the scene of your accident can also be used to prove that the defendant is to blame. Both photos from the scene and physical evidence from the scene may be used to identify contributing factors. Furthermore, such evidence can also be used to disprove the defendant’s alternative theory of fault.
Paying Medical Bills after an Injury FAQs
Who is Responsible for Paying Medical Bills After an Accident?
Who is legally obligated to pay your medical bills after an accident depends on who is responsible for the accident. If someone else caused the accident, an attorney can help you have them held liable and they or their insurance must pay.
How Do I Pay My Medical Bills After an Accident if I am Uninsured?
If you do not have insurance to cover medical bills after an accident or injury, you may file a claim with the insurance of the person responsible for the injuries.
Can I File a Lawsuit to Try to Pay My Medical Bills?
If the at-fault party is uninsured or your insurance claim is denied, you may consider filing a personal injury lawsuit. If successful, the defendant may be legally obligated to pay for your damages, which could extend beyond medical bills.
What if I Use My Insurance to Pay Medical Bills Before Receiving Compensation from Insurance or a Lawsuit?
It is common for accident victims to use their own insurance to cover immediate medical costs before pursuing legal action against the at-fault party. If you successfully obtain fair compensation after your insurance has already covered your medical costs, you may be required to repay your insurance provider.
What if the At-Fault Party Cannot Pay My Medical Bills After an Accident?
If the at-fault party has no way of covering your medical bills, you may need to speak to a lawyer. If the at-fault party is uninsured and does not have the money to pay for your medical bills personally, they could be considered “judgment proof,” which means it would be impossible for them to pay even if you get a court verdict against them
Can I Make Payment Arrangements with My Healthcare Provider to Pay Medical Bills?
Hospitals frequently allow patients to make payment arrangements so they can more easily afford their medical bills. You might be able to pay your bills in monthly installments or sign a medical lien if you are planning to sue the at-fault party.
If You Were Injured Because of Another Person’s Negligence in Chicago, Our Attorneys Can Help
Get support from our experienced Rockford, IL personal injury lawyers at the Rhatigan Law Offices by calling (312) 578-8502.
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