After a car accident, the first thing most people do is check to see that they and their passengers are not seriously injured. It’s a natural human response but also a very rational one, considering that more than 130,000 people were injured in car accidents in North Carolina in 2016. For those who do suffer injuries from a crash, however, medical costs can be overwhelming, and the loss of income from missed work only adds to the financial hardship.
If you’ve been injured in a car crash, you may wonder who is going to pay for your medical care. Consider this breakdown of some typical scenarios for how your damages could be paid:
- Health insurance — Once your deductible is met, your health insurance should cover the bulk of your costs. But if someone else caused the accident and was 100 percent at fault, their auto insurance should cover at least some of your medical costs.
- Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage — North Carolina law requires drivers whose policies meet minimum bodily injury and property damage limits to carry uninsured motorist coverage. Drivers whose policy limits exceed the minimum must carry combined uninsured (UM)/underinsured (UIM) coverage. If you're in an accident and the other driver has no insurance or less coverage than your medical expenses, your UIM policy may apply and offer you protection.
- Litigation — In the event that health and auto insurance payouts are exhausted and you still have medical costs to cover, you may want to seek damages by filing a lawsuit against the driver responsible for the accident. A lawyer whose area of practice includes personal injury claims arising from auto accidents can advise you about how much you may expect to receive and the best way to proceed down a legal route.
Whether you pursue a claim against another driver’s insurance or against the defendant in a North Carolina court of law, we can help. The Lanier Law Group, P.A. has years of experience in personal injury claims for auto accidents in North Carolina and offers full-service support and robust legal advocacy. Call us toll free at (855) 757-4204 or contact us today for a free consultation about your case.