In Tennessee, the driver who caused your car accident is ultimately responsible for covering your medical expenses through their liability insurance. However, that money typically does not reach you until your Nashville auto accident claim is fully resolved, which can take months. In the meantime, your bills may be covered through your own health insurance, an optional auto policy add-on called MedPay, or in some cases a letter of protection from your doctor that defers payment until your case settles. Each of these options works differently, and some carriers will seek reimbursement from your settlement down the road.
Learning about your options early on in the process can help you get the treatment you need without the financial pressure forcing you into a bad decision. Learn more about how medical bills are handled in these cases here.
How Does Tennessee’s At-Fault Insurance System Determine Who Pays?
Since Tennessee follows an at-fault system, the negligent driver’s liability insurance is expected to cover your medical costs once fault is established. The state requires all drivers to carry a minimum of $25,000 in bodily injury coverage per person and $50,000 per accident. In serious crashes, however, medical expenses can exceed those limits quickly, which is why identifying all available sources of recovery is so important.
The challenge is that liability claims take time to resolve. The at-fault driver’s insurer will not simply start writing checks while your case is being investigated and negotiated. That means you will need to rely on other coverage in the short term to make sure your treatment is not delayed.
What Sources of Coverage Can Help Pay My Bills While My Claim Is Pending?
Depending on your specific insurance policies, you may have access to several options that can bridge the gap while your case moves forward:
- Your personal health insurance, which can cover treatment costs subject to your deductible and copay obligations
- MedPay, an optional addition to your auto insurance policy that covers medical expenses regardless of who caused the crash
- Uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage, which applies when the at-fault driver has no insurance or not enough to cover your losses
- Workers’ compensation, if the accident occurred while you were performing job-related duties
- A letter of protection, which is an agreement where your doctor provides treatment now and accepts payment from your settlement later
Each of these options comes with its own rules and limitations. Some carriers that pay your bills upfront will also seek reimbursement from your settlement through a process known as subrogation, which means not every dollar you recover will stay in your pocket.
Woodard Injury Law Can Help You Sort Through the Financial Side of Your Case
Figuring out who pays for what after a car accident is rarely simple. An experienced personal injury lawyer at Woodard Injury Law can help you determine your legal rights and follow through with a course of action that sets you up for success from there.
Contact us today to schedule a free consultation at (615) 640-3648. We handle car accident cases on contingency, which means you only pay attorney’s fees if we win compensation for you.