Jason Stephens | September 3, 2021 | Car Accidents
If you’ve been in a car accident, you may have sustained injuries that require costly treatment. You might also be wondering who is responsible for paying your medical bills in these circumstances.
A number of factors influence who may be responsible for covering the cost of your treatment after a car accident. This overview will help you better understand the topic, but it’s best to consult a personal injury attorney to determine precisely who may be required to pay your bills. A lawyer can review your case and explain your legal options.
Negligent Parties May Pay Your Medical Bills After a Car Accident in Texas
It’s important to practice safe driving habits behind the wheel. Unfortunately, this isn’t always enough to avoid being injured in a car accident. Even if you’re a responsible driver, you can potentially be injured in an accident resulting from another party’s negligence.
Texas is an at-fault state. In Texas, when negligent parties cause accidents, victims may seek compensation for such losses as their medical bills by filing personal injury claims or lawsuits.
This is why Texas drivers are required to prove they will be able to compensate the victims of accidents they cause. Drivers meet this requirement by purchasing a car insurance policy that meets state minimums. Thus, if someone else caused your accident, it’s unlikely they’d be responsible for compensating you directly. Their insurer would technically be responsible for your bills.
But, in order to recover compensation, you must prove that a negligent party genuinely caused your accident. An insurance company can justify denying your claim by arguing you haven’t sufficiently proven negligence. If they deny your claim and you don’t have enough evidence to convince a jury you deserve compensation, you may be the one who ends up paying your medical bills.
This highlights one of the many reasons you should strongly consider hiring a lawyer. An attorney can investigate your accident thoroughly to gather the necessary evidence. Additionally, most personal injury lawyers operate on a contingency fee basis. This means they don’t charge their clients any fees unless they successfully recover compensation for them. Their fees tend to be percentages of the compensation they secure.
Workers’ Compensation After a Car Accident in Texas
If you were involved in an accident while driving for work, you would typically seek financial assistance by filing a claim for workers’ compensation benefits. However, it’s still wise to enlist the help of an attorney before doing so.
Workers’ compensation laws in Texas are unique when compared to those of other states. In most states, employers are required to purchase workers’ compensation insurance. That’s not the case in Texas. Employers can opt out if they wish.
If your employer doesn’t have workers’ compensation insurance, you may need to file a lawsuit against them to recover compensation for your medical bills. An attorney will determine if this is the best option after reviewing your case.
Even if your employer does have workers’ compensation insurance, you could still benefit substantially from hiring an attorney. The fact is, insurance companies are businesses. Insurers wish to protect themselves financially. If you file a workers’ compensation claim, an insurer may argue you don’t deserve compensation because your accident wasn’t technically work-related. Or, they may try to convince you to settle for an unreasonably low offer.
An attorney will be qualified to negotiate for a fair settlement on your behalf. Regardless of the specific nature of your Texas car accident, if you’ve been injured in one, meet with a lawyer to learn if someone else is responsible for paying your medical bills.
Contact Our Car Accident Law Firm in Fort Worth, TX
If you’ve been injured in an accident in Fort Worth and need legal help, contact our Fort Worth car accident lawyers at Stephens Law Personal Injury | Wrongful Death | Truck Accidents to schedule a free consultation.
Stephens Law Personal Injury | Wrongful Death | Truck Accidents
1300 S University Dr # 300
Fort Worth, TX 76107
(817) 420-7000