7 Jun

Who Pays Medical Bills After A Florida Motorcycle Accident?

Florida Law Group Motorcycle Accidents, Personal Injury

Were you recently injured in a motorcycle crash in Florida that was caused by a negligent driver? Who pays medical bills after a Florida motorcycle accident – do you have to shoulder the burden of the costs? Our experienced motorcycle accident attorneys can explain everything you need to know.

Frequency of Florida motorcycle accidents

Motorcycle accidents in Florida are unfortunately common occurrences. he high number of fatalities can be attributed to more motorcyclists on the road because of the warm weather, high traffic in Florida, a higher number of distracted drivers in this state, a higher number of older drivers whose eyesight isn’t as sharp and who don’t have the same reaction times, no helmet required for those over 21, and other reasons. In 2017, Florida ranked 6th in the nation for the number of motorcycle accident fatalities (594). When you stop to think about it, that is a truly tragic number. Nearly 600 people lost their lives – 600 families lost their loved ones – in one year alone.

Examples of medical bill costs

Not only is the emotional toll of an accident extremely high for victims, but so is the financial toll, even if the accident only results in injury and not a fatality. If you’re severely injured in a motorcycle crash that wasn’t your fault, you could incur medical bills that amount to thousands, tens of thousands, or even hundreds of thousands of dollars. Depending on the extent of your injuries, you may need to pay for things like…

ambulatory transport or air transport
emergency room/intensive unit care
imaging tests like X-rays, MRIs, CT scans, etc.
surgeries
hospitalization
medications
medical devices (wheelchair, crutches, boot, etc.)
physical therapy
chiropractic care
copays
deductibles/li>
in-home assistance
and more.

Sadly, some injuries may never fully heal, and require expensive, lifelong treatment.

It’s not fair that you should have to pay any of the costs when you didn’t contribute to the crash, and you do have a legal right to pursue compensation from other parties!

However, most people aren’t sure how to go about doing so or don’t know who pays medical bills after a Florida motorcycle accident. The answer to that question will depend on your specific circumstances, but for most accident victims, the following explains who pays and when!

Your health insurance company is likely the first party that pays medical bills after a Florida motorcycle accident.

Florida is one of a few “no fault” states, meaning that drivers are required to carry personal injury protection (PIP) insurance and must go through their own insurance company first if they are injured. However, in Florida, the laws are different for motorcyclists, who do not have to carry PIP coverage. Riders over 21 must instead carry at least $10,000 in medical insurance if they want to ride without a helmet; this amount is mandatory for those who opt out of wearing a helmet. For those who choose to wear a helmet, this coverage is not required. (Riders under 21 must wear a helmet at all times and cannot opt out). All Florida motorcyclists have to carry bodily liability insurance, but this only protects people they may injure, not themselves.

This means that health insurance will partially pay for the costs, but as anyone with good health insurance knows, your policy doesn’t cover everything. $10,000 in coverage sounds like a lot, but that could be the cost of single surgery you have to undergo. When your bills exceed what your health insurance covers, you need to seek compensation from another source.

The responsible driver’s insurance company is the one who really owes you, and who should pay the majority of your medical bills after a Florida motorcycle accident.

Injured motorcyclists can file a personal injury lawsuit against the other driver’s insurance company. They are the party who most commonly pays medical bills after a Florida motorcycle accident. While the crash may have been the fault of the other driver, the driver themselves will likely not have enough in terms of assets to pay the full amount you incurred in medical bills and other costs (like lost wages), but their insurance company can. If another party was involved in your accident, such as a rideshare company like Uber or Lyft or a trucking company, you may also be able to seek damages from those companies (who have enough assets to pay your bills), but in most cases, filing a lawsuit against the driver’s insurance company is the best way to get paid full compensation.

Insurance companies lose money when they pay out claims to injured motorcyclists, especially if those victims aren’t their clients. They will do everything in their power to avoid paying you fairly for what your injuries are worth – it will take a fight to recover the settlement you deserve. Trying to argue and negotiate with them alone can be exhausting and fruitless, particularly if you are trying to heal from an accident. That’s why having the right attorney team on your side is so important! Aggressive motorcycle accident lawyers can take the burden off you and give you a better chance at winning.

While you wait for a settlement, litigation financing can pay your bills.

Working with an attorney to recover damages from the at-fault driver’s insurance company can help you get paid, but sometimes that can take a long time, especially if you have a complex case or if the insurance company refuses to settle and your case needs to go to trial. Litigation financing (also known as lawsuit loans!) can be a source that pays medical bills after a Florida motorcycle accident until you receive compensation and are able to repay the loan. Our lawyers can help you understand if litigation financing is in your best interests and explain your options.

The Florida Law Group can ensure that you’re not the one who pays medical bills after a Florida motorcycle accident that wasn’t your fault. Call now.

If you’ve been injured in a motorcycle accident that was caused by another driver’s negligence, call The Florida Law Group today to schedule a free consultation. Our highly knowledgeable, talented, award-winning Florida motorcycle accident injury lawyers have recovered over $1 billion in damages for clients across the state. We have 11 office locations to better serve you, and you will never pay any of our legal fees unless and until we win your case!