Car accident injuries might mean physical therapy for you or surgery. You might need to take time off of work to recover. But who’s going to cover those medical bills?
In this article, we’ll answer that question.
It Depends Who Was at Fault
There are six million car accidents per year in America. That’s a staggering number until you take the time to think about how many vehicles are on the road. With tens of millions of cars out there, it’s only a small percentage that get in wrecks.
If you are one of those unfortunate drivers, though, you need to figure out who to blame for the collision. The other driver is usually at fault if they:
- Were tailgating you
- Were speeding
- Were consuming alcohol or illegal drugs
Of course, you’ll need to prove any of those things, so you’ll want to hire a lawyer. One who specializes in car accidents is best. Look at their website and read testimonials from former clients to get an idea of their track record.
Your Lawyer Might Hire an Investigator
One thing that your lawyer might do is hire an investigator to determine who was at fault for what took place. This investigator might:
- Look for cameras that took accident video
- Look for witnesses
- Examine the vehicles, tire marks, etc.
There are more camera phones around than ever, with people constantly taking selfies for Instagram or making YouTube videos. Traffic cameras at an intersection might also reveal what happened.
The investigator will report their findings to you and the lawyer you hired. Based on what they found, you should have a strong case in court if you choose to sue the other driver.
Winning Your Court Case
You can sue the other driver for pain and suffering if your feelings warrant it. You can also go after them to recoup the medical bills that will no doubt be coming in.
If you sustained an injury, then it can prevent you from working. You might be able to get money from the other driver to cover your work absence as well.
The injury might even be serious enough that it ends your career. If that happens, the court should find in your favor and give you a monetary amount that sufficiently covers what happened.
After You’ve Won Your Case
If you win the case, you can expect the other driver to pay you. You’ll need to give your lawyer some of that money for helping you with your lawsuit.
After that, you can put that money to work paying doctor bills, hospital bills, physical therapy bills, etc. You might need to spend money on things like a walking boot or wheelchair, or you may need to retrofit your house with ramps or support railings.
It all depends on how bad your injuries are. Hopefully, you’ll be able to recover fully from them in time.
What About if You Lose Your Lawsuit?
Of course, it is not inconceivable for you to lose your lawsuit against the other driver. There are several possible reasons that might happen. Despite your lawyer’s best efforts, maybe you were not able to gather sufficient evidence that what happened was the other driver’s fault.
Unfortunately, that means you’ll need to pay for your medical bills. If you have a high-deductible insurance plan, those bills might be thousands of dollars. You’ll need to come up with a hefty copay for your various doctor’s appointments, etc. until you hit your yearly deductible.
The one silver lining is that with many car accident lawyers if they don’t win your lawsuit, you don’t have to pay them. This is what’s known as paying on contingency.
Afterward
Once the court determines whose fault it was, and you’ve collected any damages, you can try to resume your life. It’s not going to be easy.
If you can’t get back to the physical state you used to enjoy, it might depress you. You may need to seek therapy to deal with it.
In many instances, though, you’ll be able to pick up the pieces in time and resume your life on its former trajectory. You’ll stop being afraid when you get back behind the wheel.
