In addition to the emotional and physical toll, the cost of treatment after an accident may seriously undermine your financial security. Medical expenses are often higher than crash survivors expect, and sometimes more than you can financially handle. The problem is compounded if your injury prevents you from going back to work. 
Let’s look at what you need to know to protect yourself when the bills start rolling in and how a skilled car accident attorney can help.
Medical Expenses to Expect From a Virginia Car Accident
Specific expenses vary depending on the type of crash and how you were harmed. For instance, injuries sustained in a fender bender along Monument Avenue differ considerably from those suffered in a head-on crash on I-95 during rush hour.
In the Richmond area, common car accident injuries include bone fractures, cuts and bruises, soft tissue damage, traumatic brain injury, or whiplash. Pain or mobility issues because of those injuries may prevent accident survivors from immediately returning to work. They may even force seriously hurt passengers to leave the workforce entirely.
Injury recovery and its aftermath can leave you financially vulnerable if you’re dealing with symptoms such as nerve damage or chronic pain and can’t engage in the same physical activity as before the collision.
With any type of Virginia car accident, your medical costs might include the:
- Ambulance ride
- Emergency room visit
- Hospital in-patient stay
- Medications for treating pain and other symptoms
- Out-of-pocket costs incurred while seeking medical treatment
- Physical therapy or other ongoing treatments
- Surgery
There can also be an emotional component to be considered as well. In some cases, your damages may include non-economic elements like pain and suffering, PTSD, and so on.
Common Ways to Cover Medical Costs After a Virginia Car Crash
To handle the often-astronomical costs of care following a wreck, here are the most common methods.
Car insurance
Either your plan (if you have full coverage) or the policy of the other driver (if that person was at-fault) may end up paying all or a portion of your medical bills.
Health insurance
You’ll likely need to tap this insurance source first if you need immediate medical treatment that can’t wait until the other driver is found liable for your injuries. If you’re uninsured or your policy doesn’t cover the full cost, you may be able to work out a payment plan or price reduction directly with the hospital.
Medpay
If you selected the optional medical payments coverage on your automobile insurance policy (often referred to as medpay), anyone in the vehicle is covered for medical costs up to a specific cap. Crucially, medpay kicks in no matter who’s found at fault for the wreck, which can be a monetary lifesaver.
Settlement or judgment in a personal injury lawsuit
An attorney can fully investigate the accident to determine the liable party and then prove that person or entity caused your injury through negligence. Then, you can hold the at-fault party responsible by directly pursuing financial recovery in a lawsuit.
Even if a lawsuit isn’t required, the simple act of retaining an attorney makes it significantly more likely an insurer provides the full compensation you’re owed. A lawyer alleviates some of the stress of the situation by handling negotiations and making sure all your damages, including medical costs, are properly considered in any settlement.
However, vehicle insurance policies often have caps on health care coverage. Depending on the severity of your injury and how it altered your life, your actual damages may be higher than your plan’s cap. In this case, it’s essential to seek legal advice from a Virginia car accident lawyer who can outline your rights to a personal injury lawsuit.
