If you are at fault in an accident then your own auto insurance pays your medical bills IF you have something called Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance. Otherwise your own personal health plan (the health insurance you get through your employment) should cover your medical bills (minus the deductibles and copays)
If you are not at fault in the accident, and if you have Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance as part of your auto insurance policy, then, your own PIP insurance will pay your medical bills up to $10,000 in Washington State and $15,000 in Oregon State. When you are all finished receiving treatment, your auto insurance will get reimbursed all costs they paid out for your medical bills from the auto insurance representing the at fault person (the guy who caused the accident).
It is best not to send your accident-related medical bills directly to the at-fault insurance company because they will not pay your medical bills until you end (settle) your claim with them. This could take many months to years....meanwhile...your hospital emergency room bill gets sent to your home for prompt payment. Hospitals do not care who was at fault in the accident...they just want you to pay them now. Hospitals can be very effective at collecting the medical bills from you even if someone else caused your injury. If this happens to you, get a lawyer. Lawyers can sue the at-fault insurance company and force them to pay your medical bill. It can still take a lawyer many months (even years) to effectively settle your insurance claim. It's best to send your medical bills to your own auto (PIP) insurance at first and let them worry about the rest. Our office does all billing on behalf of the patients.
Your auto insurance rates will not go up if you did not cause the accident. Your insurance rates will go up if you caused the accident.
Wade D. Burbank, DC
Chiropractor
6403 NE 117th Ave Ste 109
Vancouver WA 98662
ph 360-567-1739
www.chiropractorvancouverwa.com
*specialist in treating car accident injuries, work place injuries, and neck and back pain.
