Personal injury lawyer Bridget Long explains why it’s important for you to submit your bills to your health insurance company after an accident.
Should I use my health insurance when I’ve been in an accident to pay my medical bills?
One question I frequently hear from a new client is “should I use my health insurance when I’ve been in an accident to pay my medical bills,” the answer is always yes. One reason people may be confused about whether they should use their health insurance is because hospital or emergency room personnel may ask for the car insurance.
Why should I use my heatlh insurance benefits after an accident that wasn’t my fault?
You may not believe it’s fair to use your health insurance when you’ve been in an accident that wasn’t your fault. However, you’ve paid for the benefits of that health insurance company and you should feel comfortable using it.
You are responsible for paying your medical bills
At the end of your case, any unpaid medical bills are your responsibility. It may be months or even years before your case is resolved. During that time, your medical bills can go into collections and adversely affect your credit. If they haven’t been paid by health insurance, they’re going to come out of the proceeds of your settlement.
About the Speaker: Bridget Long is an experienced trial attorney focusing her practice on personal injury law at Allen & Allen in Petersburg, Virginia. She has handled cases involving car accidents, catastrophic injuries and wrongful death and has litigated cases throughout Virginia on behalf of clients injured due to the negligence of others. She is an active member of the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association and has been named a “Super Lawyer” in Virginia Super Lawyers Magazine. Bridget is passionate about defending the rights of the injured.
