If you were injured in a negligence-based accident, the at-fault party should pay your medical bills, among other forms of compensation. If you were injured in a car accident, personal injury protection (PIP) could pay your immediate medical bills up to the limit of your policy. If your injuries exceed PIP’s policy limits, the at-fault party is responsible for the remaining costs.
Getting compensation after an accident can be a complex process, but you do not have to navigate it alone. A Tampa personal injury lawyer will generally accept your case on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing out of your pocket to pursue damages. Learn more about who pays your medical bills during a Tampa injury case by scheduling a free case evaluation with a local law firm.
What Medical Costs Will The At-Fault Party Cover?
Medical expenses can start adding up at the accident scene. However, securing compensation can take a significant time. If you have health insurance coverage, it may pay your bills while you receive medical treatment. In a process called subrogation, your insurance company could recoup the costs of any medical bills they paid upfront from the at-fault party’s insurer.
Your personal injury attorney can aim to hold the negligent party accountable for paying all of the costs of your treatment protocol, including:
- Ambulance bills
- Emergency room fees
- Hospitalization
- Rehabilitation
- Various therapies
- In-home medical aides
- Required medications
- Assistive medical devices
Get (and keep getting) all the medical care you need until you achieve maximum medical improvement (MMI). Your accident attorney can pursue the at-fault party to cover these costs so you can focus on recovering.
What Other Accident-Related Costs Should The At-Fault Party Cover?
The costs of treating your injuries are not the only damages you can demand from the negligent party. In addition, their financial liability can include:
- Income losses: Past and future wages, including full- and part-time salary, lost future earning ability, business losses, vacation days and benefits, and hard-to-prove sources of income.
- Property damage: The costs you incur to restore your damaged property to its pre-accident condition, compensation for the diminished resale value of repaired property, and replacement costs for property deemed a total loss.
- Non-economic damages: Temporary or permanent disfigurement or impairment, physical pain and suffering, mental and emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life.
Diligently track all your accident-related costs and collect the bills, receipts, and other documentation that establish their individual and collective value. If warranted, a Tampa wrongful death lawyer can also pursue medical bills and wrongful death damages if your loved one did not survive a negligence-based accident.
PIP Insurance Can Cover Your Medical Bills After A Car Accident In Tampa
Under Florida’s no-fault system, your PIP insurance policy may cover some of your medical bills, regardless of who was at fault, after an auto accident. Per Florida Statutes § 627.736, PIP generally covers 80% of your medical expenses, up to a maximum of $10,000.
If your medical bills exceed your PIP coverage limits, the at-fault driver should pay your remaining costs via their insurance provider. Your Tampa car accident lawyer can explain how PIP may apply to your motor vehicle accident case.
How Can A Lawyer Establish The At-Fault Party’s Negligence And Financial Liability?
To hold the liable party responsible for your medical bills and related costs, your accident lawyer must prove their negligence and financial liability with a robust collection of evidence. The following evidence may prove the accident’s causes and contributing factors:
- Medical records
- Official reports
- Salary history records
- Accident reconstruction
- Accident scene photos
- Witness statements
- Expert testimonials
- First responder reports
Your evidence collection should also prove the accident’s costs. It can include your proof of income, property repair and replacement estimates, and medical bills and prognosis report.
What Are The Four Legal Components Of Personal Injury Negligence?
Negligence plays a crucial role in your injury claim since proving it is the key to recovering damages from the responsible party. To establish negligence in your personal injury claim or lawsuit, your lawyer must identify and document its legal elements, which include:
- The at-fault party owed you a duty of care.
- The at-fault party breached their legal duty of care.
- The at-fault party’s action caused your accident.
- Your accident and injuries had financial consequences.
Your attorney can prove these elements with a strong evidence collection. They will build your evidence file, establish negligence, and use the accumulated evidence to fight for fair compensation on your behalf.
How Can A Lawyer Help With A Personal Injury Claim In Tampa?
A lawyer can help you build a persuasive case that proves the at-fault party’s liability and your right to compensation. They can also deal with the negligent party’s insurance company. They can handle all the moving parts of your accident claim and speak to the adjuster for you. On your behalf, they will also:
- Assess your recoverable damages
- Investigate the details of your accident
- Draft and file your insurance claim or lawsuit
- Handle all case-related communication
- Interview lay and expert witnesses
Your personal injury attorney will represent you from start to finish, including negotiating for a fair settlement that compensates you for your medical bills and more.
How Long Do You Have To File A Lawsuit Against The At-Fault Party?
You generally have two years to file a personal injury lawsuit, according to Florida Statutes § 95.11(4)(a). If you do not take legal action before the deadline, the court could bar you from filing or dismiss it without hearing it. The insurance company could also refuse to negotiate with you.
If a lawyer represents you, they can help you interpret the statute of limitations and file your lawsuit on time and in the appropriate Tampa court.
Get A No-Cost, No-Obligation Evaluation Of Your Tampa Injury Claim
If you were injured in an accident caused by someone else’s negligence, you could be entitled to various forms of compensation. You can focus on recovering while we handle everything else.
Learn more about who pays your medical bills during a Tampa injury case and how hard we’ll work to go the extra mile for you. Contact our consultation team at the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine to get started.
