It starts with the screech of tires, the jolt of impact, and then chaos. Next thing you know, you’re rattled, in pain, and maybe even rushed to the ER in an ambulance. At that time, the last thing on your mind is money. But once the dust settles, the reality hits. Medical bills start rolling in: ambulance ride fees, X-rays, hospital stays, physical therapy. The numbers climb higher than you ever expected.
What’s worse is that you weren’t even at fault. Someone else ran a red light at Loop 1604 and Interstate 10, yet you’re the one left drowning in medical debt. Fortunately, you have options under Texas law. In this article, we’ll go over how medical bills are paid after a car accident in Texas.
Who Pays for Medical Bills After a Texas Car Accident?
Texas follows an at-fault insurance system, meaning the driver responsible for the accident (and their auto insurer) should pay for damages, including medical expenses. But getting those payments isn’t always straightforward. Insurance companies often delay, deny, or minimize claims to protect their bottom line. That’s why knowing your options is so important.
Health Insurance: A Temporary Safety Net
If you have health insurance, it can cover medical care related to the accident. This includes hospital stays, surgeries, and rehab. However, using health insurance doesn’t mean you won’t owe money later. Many policies require reimbursement if you receive a car accident settlement, so check with your health insurance company.
Auto Insurance: The At-Fault Driver Should Pay
In most cases, the at-fault driver’s insurance should cover your medical care bills. This is done through their bodily injury liability coverage. But dealing with their insurance company can be a challenge. A skilled car accident lawyer can help file your legal claim, push back against unfair denials, and fight for maximum compensation. Without legal representation, insurers may try to offer you a lowball settlement or shift blame to avoid paying.
Your Own Auto Insurance Could Help
Even if the other driver is at fault, your own Personal Injury Protection (PIP) or Medical Payments (Med Pay) coverage may provide immediate relief. These coverages, if included in your insurance policy, can help pay medical bills while waiting for a settlement.
- PIP covers medical expenses, lost wages, and essential services, regardless of fault. Texas insurance companies are required to offer at least $2,500 in PIP coverage, though drivers can decline it.
- Med Pay strictly covers medical expenses but does not cover lost wages.
If you’re unsure whether you have these coverages, check your auto insurance policy or speak with your insurance provider. A Texas car accident attorney can also review the policy with you and advise whether your coverage is sufficient.
Texas Crime Victims’ Compensation Program: A Last Resort Option
For some accident victims, especially those injured in hit-and-runs or drunk-driving crashes, insurance may not be an option. If you’re in this financial situation, Texas offers a Crime Victims’ Compensation Program that may help cover medical expenses, counseling, and lost wages. This program primarily assists victims of violent crimes, but certain car accident victims may qualify. A car accident attorney can help determine if you’re eligible and guide you through the application process.
Filing a Personal Injury Claim to Cover Medical Bills
Even if insurance pays some of your medical bills, it rarely covers everything. And let’s be direct: insurance companies aren’t in the business of handing out fair settlements. They’ll pay as little as possible and often ignore long-term costs like ongoing treatment, lost income, and the emotional toll of an accident. Here’s what a personal injury claim can help you recover:
- Medical Bills: A single ER visit can cost thousands. If you need surgery, rehab, or ongoing treatment, those expenses add up fast. A personal injury claim ensures you’re not just reimbursed for what you’ve already paid, but also for the care you’ll need down the road. This includes ambulance transportation, diagnostic tests, hospital stays and surgeries, physical therapy, prescription medications, and medical devices.
- Lost Wages: Whether you’ve missed a week or several months, an accident claim can help replace your lost wages. If your car accident injuries affect your ability to work long-term, you may be entitled to compensation for diminished earning capacity, future lost wages, and even lost benefits.
- Pain and Suffering: Texas law allows accident victims to seek fair compensation for pain and suffering, which includes physical pain, emotional distress, and scarring and disfigurement. Unlike medical bills, pain and suffering doesn’t come with a receipt—but that doesn’t mean it isn’t real.
- Loss of Enjoyment of Life: What happens if your injuries take away the things that make life meaningful? Maybe you loved playing sports, going on hikes, or chasing your kids around the backyard. If an auto accident strips you of those joys and affects your quality of life, you deserve compensation for that loss.
Insurance companies see your case as numbers on a spreadsheet. They don’t care about how much pain you’re in, the sleep you’ve lost, or how your injury changed your daily life. A personal injury claim forces them to see the full picture, and a Texas personal injury lawyer can help you fight for every dollar you’re owed.
How an Experienced Car Accident Lawyer Can Help
As we stated earlier, insurance companies have one goal: pay as little as possible. They’re not on your side, no matter how friendly their adjusters sound. They’ll delay your insurance claim, question your injuries, or pressure you into a lowball settlement, hoping you’ll take it just to make the stress go away. An experienced car accident attorney knows their playbook and fights back to ensure you don’t get shortchanged.
Here are some of the many ways that a personal injury lawyer can help:
- Proving Who’s at Fault: Even when it seems obvious that the at-fault driver caused the crash, insurance companies look for loopholes to shift blame. They might argue that you were partially responsible for the accident or that there’s not enough proof that their driver was negligent. To counter these assumptions, your personal injury attorney will gather evidence like accident scene photos, medical records, police reports, traffic camera footage, and witness statements.
- Settlement Negotiations: Insurance adjusters count on accident victims not knowing the true value of their claim. An experienced attorney knows what your case is worth, will reject unfair offers, and demand a payout that actually covers your losses.
- Fighting Back Against Delay Tactics: Insurance companies drag their feet on purpose. They take weeks (or months) to review your claim and insist they’re still “investigating” long after they should have made a decision. A lawyer keeps them accountable and forces them to act. If they continue to stall, legal action can apply the pressure needed to move your claim forward.
Insurance companies have teams of lawyers working against you. Their job is to protect profits, not people. From proving fault to negotiating a fair settlement, a San Antonio car accident lawyer takes the stress off your shoulders by explaining how medical bills are paid after a motor vehicle accident in Texas and making sure you’re not left paying out of pocket for someone else’s mistake.
What If You Need to Pay Medical Bills Before Receiving Compensation?
Medical providers don’t wait for personal injury lawsuits to settle. If you need treatment but haven’t received a settlement yet, here are some ways to keep from falling behind on payments.
Medical Liens: Get Treatment Now, Pay Later
If you don’t have the money to cover treatment, some doctors and hospitals may agree to wait for payment until your case settles. This is called a medical lien. Instead of billing you upfront, the provider puts a claim on your settlement, so they get paid once your case is resolved.
Here’s how it works:
- You sign an authorization and assignment form, agreeing that your provider will be paid from your settlement.
- The provider continues treating you without upfront costs.
- When your case settles, the provider collects their payment directly.
Medical liens can be a lifesaver if you’re injured and can’t afford treatment, but they come with risks. Some providers charge higher-than-normal rates when working on a lien, knowing they may have to wait months (or even years) for payment. A car accident lawyer can negotiate these settlement agreements to make sure you don’t get overcharged.
Health Insurance Policy: Use It, But Be Prepared to Pay Back
If you have private health insurance coverage, it can help cover hospital bills, surgeries, and follow-up care immediately. But there’s a catch: If you receive a settlement, your health insurer may demand reimbursement. This process, called subrogation, means they get paid back for any accident-related medical expenses they covered. Always consult an experienced lawyer first to make sure you’re not caught off guard when the bill comes due.
PIP or Med Pay Coverage: Immediate Relief
If you have Personal Injury Protection (PIP) or Medical Payments (Med Pay) coverage on your auto policy, you’re in luck. These coverages kick in right away, covering medical expenses without waiting for a lawsuit to settle. PIP covers medical expenses and lost wages (if you can’t work) while Med Pay covers medical bills.
Texas doesn’t require drivers to have PIP or Med Pay, but insurance companies must offer PIP coverage. If you didn’t specifically decline it, you might have it without realizing it. Check your policy, as it’s one way how medical bills are paid after a motor vehicle accident in Texas.
Medicaid or Medicare
If you’re covered by Medicaid or Medicare, these government programs can pay for your medical treatment after an accident. Here’s what you need to know:
- Medicaid and Medicare may demand reimbursement from your settlement.
- Medicare often negotiates lower rates with providers, which means your overall medical costs may be lower.
- If you qualify for Medicaid, you may also be eligible for additional assistance programs that cover related expenses.
If you’re on Medicaid or Medicare and expecting a settlement, speak with a lawyer. There are ways to reduce the amount you have to repay, keeping more of your settlement in your pocket.
Payment Plans With Medical Providers
If you don’t qualify for Medicaid, don’t have PIP or Med Pay, and can’t use a medical lien, you still have options. Many hospitals, doctors, and physical therapy clinics offer payment plans that let you break your bills into smaller, manageable payments over time.
Many providers offer in-house financing and some hospitals charge zero interest if you stick to the payment schedule. From surgeries to physical therapy, you can spread out costs over months instead of paying all at once. If you’re struggling to pay a medical bill, always ask about payment plans before assuming you’re out of options.
Get a Free Consultation From a Texas Car Accident Lawyer
If medical bills are piling up and the auto insurance company isn’t paying, contact a Texas car accident lawyer today. The sooner you act, the better your chances of securing the financial relief you need. At the Texas Law Guns, Injury & Accident Lawyers, our legal team has a strong track record of getting the best results for injured clients, and we’re here to help. For more information or to schedule a no-obligation initial consultation with a personal injury attorney, call our law firm at (210) 800-0000 or contact us online today.
The Villarreal & Begum, LAW GUNS boasts a team of professionals who focus on personal injury cases for the San Antonio area. This means that if you receive significant physical or emotional injuries we are around to help you understand your rights and seek compensation. If you’re hurt in a car accident, animal attack, slip and fall accident or 18 wheeler, we’re the law firm that cares about your problems.