Car crashes are a leading cause of severe injury and death in the United States, including right here in Indiana. People of all ages are at risk of broken bones, spinal cord injuries, brain injuries and other serious medical issues if they experience a collision out on the road.
Some people may worry about the cost of the medical care that they will require after a car crash. There are even those who will try to avoid medical care when it is obvious that they need treatment. Understanding your rights after a crash can help you feel more confident about seeking care.
Car insurance can cover your costs
Maybe you don’t have health insurance. Perhaps you just have mediocre coverage. If the policy that you have has a large deductible, you may need to pay for thousands of dollars of treatment before insurance will pay for your care.
If your budget can’t absorb those expenses, especially if you need time off of work, you may think you just need to forgo treatment. However, car insurance can cover your care costs. The other driver who caused the crash should have at least $25,000 worth of bodily injury coverage in case they hurt someone else.
Your policy likely also includes underinsured motorist coverage. Unless you told your insurance company in writing that you didn’t want it, you may have at least $25,000 worth of underinsured motorist protection to help cover those bills.
Forgoing treatment could affect your rights in the future
If you don’t get timely medical care after a crash, it will be harder for you to file an insurance claim or a civil lawsuit against the responsible party.
Untreated injuries can grow worse, and both insurance companies and litigation defendants could use your failure to get treatments to counter your claim that they are fully responsible for your medical costs and income losses.
Additionally, if you do ever truly need to go to the hospital because your symptoms worsen, the gap in time between when you got hurt and when you sought care will make it harder to bring a successful claim.
You can claim lost income because of the injury
A quick diagnosis that makes the connection between your condition and the car crash clear will help you if you need to take time off of work.
The insurance policies for you and the other driver can help cover your lost wages in addition to your medical care. Otherwise, you would be dependent on your paid time off or your ability to qualify for leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act because of your injuries.
There are numerous benefits to seeking care for injuries suffered after a car crash. Knowing what steps to take after a motor vehicle collision can help you protect your finances and your future.
