A slip and fall can cause injuries that result in thousands of dollars in medical bills, including emergency treatment, diagnostic testing, surgery, medications, physical therapy, and other costs. If youโve been struggling to make ends meet, such expenses can make it impossible to cover rent, utilities, and even groceries at the same time. Insurance companies arenโt always eager to pay for medical expenses. Even if they do, what they offer may not be enough. So, who is required to pay for medical expenses after a slip and fall?
Medical payment coverage in your homeownerโs insurance policy may only cover the cost of initial care. Your slip and fall related injury costs may also be covered by:
- A property owner: Offering to pay your medical bills is not an admission of fault or liability. If they request you sign a release or other paperwork in exchange for payment of medical bills, you may lose the right to file a future claim.
- Your insurance provider: Your health insurance, Medicare, or Medicaid may cover bills related to injuries you sustained from a slip and fall accident. But if you receive a monetary settlement, most health insurance carriers will demand compensation.
- A legal settlement: If you donโt have insurance, Medicare, or Medicaid, you are responsible for paying medical bills. Delaying payment can mean late fees and negative impacts on your credit. But with the prospect of a settlement or a successful verdict, a medical provider may be more flexible in terms of collections.
Premises Liability
In general, the injured party is responsible for paying their medical bills in a premises liability (slip and fall) case. The exception is if the property ownerโs liability insurance policy includes med pay coverage, but this has limits. Once these are exceeded, you must cover the bills yourself. However, if youโre hurt in a workplace accident, you can file a workersโ compensation claim, in which case a workersโ compensation insurer will cover your medical bills.
โFaultโ vs. โNo-Faultโ States
In a โfaultโ state such as California, youโre required to pay medical bills as they come in. For example, automobile drivers can purchase med-pay coverage that covers drivers and passengers for damages up to around $10,000. However, med-pay coverage isnโt always required; those without it are responsible for paying all their bills, even if they didnโt cause an accident.
But in other states, no-fault insurance is required. It means an insurer will pay some or all the medical costs associated with your injuries. Coverage is often available regardless of who was at fault, up to the stateโs no-fault limit. Also, your medical bills may be paid for by your health insurer.
If your injuries are serious enough, or the medical bills exceed a pre-determined amount, you may be eligible to file a liability claim against an at-fault driver. Liability claims resulting in litigation, whether settled in court or through a trial, can take more time. In the meantime, your medical care providers will still demand payments.
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