Hospitalization After a New Jersey Car Accident: Who Pays?
Annually, well over 200,000 New Jersey car accidents are reported in the state. While some of these can lead to only minor injuries, many require emergency hospital transportation. A common concern for injured parties after a car accident is medical care costs. In some instances, people who need to be hospitalized will decide to decline an ambulance or refuse to go to the hospital because of it. Other times, injuries can be so catastrophic that a victim cannot make the decision for themself regarding the medical care they receive.
If you have wondered who pays for hospitalization after a New Jersey car accident, you wouldn’t be alone. This is a very common question. When you need immediate medical care for the injuries you sustain after a car accident, this is undoubtedly a distressing position to be in. However, seeing a medical provider and getting the necessary care you require is essential to your health and well-being. In the aftermath of a car accident, your actions can greatly impact your ability to heal and recover.
If you have questions about filing a car accident injury claim in New Jersey, you can speak to a South Jersey car accident injury attorney at Monaco Law PC during a complimentary consultation.
Paying for Hospitalization in New Jersey After a Car Accident
There are a few ways that payment can be made for a hospital stay after a car accident in New Jersey, including:
Standard PIP
It is mandatory for New Jersey drivers to have personal injury protection (PIP) coverage, which individuals will often use to pay for their medical bills. PIP coverage can pay for hospital stays, surgeries, therapy, rehabilitation, follow-up appointments, and other medical expenses. Depending on the level of coverage a policyholder has, additional benefits may be paid, such as lost wages.
Basic PIP
A level of PIP coverage that has lower coverage limits making it more affordable because of reduced premiums. Basic PIP can pay for essential medical care. However, in situations where an accident results in severe injuries requiring extensive treatment, the medical costs are likely to be higher than the policy’s coverage. Here, an injured party may have to pay out of their own pocket for what was not covered.
Personal Health Insurance
Using your health insurance to pay for the extra costs that your PIP coverage didn’t pay for is possible. However, you may be responsible for deductibles, co-pays, and other expenses.
When your medical expenses are substantial after a car accident, it could be possible to file a claim for the compensation you are owed. A car accident lawyer can help you with your case by identifying the totality of your damages and determining what you are entitled to. In the event that your claim encounters obstacles preventing you from coming to a fair settlement, an attorney can take the next steps and pursue litigation.
Speak to a New Jersey Personal Injury Attorney Today
You are welcome to call our South Jersey personal injury lawyer at Monaco Law PC at (609) 277-3166 for our New Jersey office and (215) 546-3166 for our office in Pennsylvania to discuss your case today.
We are a New Jersey personal injury law firm serving Atlantic County, Burlington County, Cape May County, Camden County, Cumberland County, Gloucester County, Mercer County, Middlesex County, Ocean County, Salem County, and all of South Jersey.
Source:
nj.gov/transportation/refdata/accident/pdf/TotalCrashRecordsbyCounty.pdf
