How do I Handle My Medical Bills After a Car Accident in California?

How do I handle my medical bills after a car accident in California? As an attorney that has been representing victims of auto accidents in the Golden State for over 20 years, this is one of the questions that I get asked a lot. Unfortunately, it is a question without a simple answer because there are a lot of factors that go into how to deal with health care related expenses that stem from being injured in a motor vehicle accident. These involve issues of legal fault, various types of insurance coverage and provisions and other practical aspects.

Your health should be your number one priority after being injured in a car wreck. If I see one mistake that many people make, it is worrying about who will pay the medical bills and how they will get paid instead of simply getting the medical attention needed. When you get involved in a motor vehicle crash and you experience any type of visible injuries such as cuts, bruises, broken bones or even just physical pain in your neck, back or extremities, it is always advisable to at least get checked out by a medical professional. Never hesitate to accept an offer of emergency medical transportation via ambulance from the scene of the accident or fail to go see a doctor upon the onset of pain in the days following the incident. Not only is this advisable from a health standpoint but, auto insurance carriers in California tend to use alleged “delay in treatment” as one of the major excuses for denying a claim or attempting to reduce the settlement value of your case.