If the other driver caused the accident:
Biggest Mistake You Could Make: The hospital you go to will probably tell you they plan to charge the other driver’s insurance company. Makes sense, right? No. The hospital will actually file a medical lien on your injury case so that any money from a settlement will go directly toward the bill. In other words, you will pay for it!
A huge number of clients have come to me after telling the emergency room to charge the other driver’s insurance. Remember: insurance does not work this way, and if you have health insurance, doing this will cost you a lot of money
If you have health insurance, any treatment you receive is charged at a reduced rate. An MRI, for example, might cost $1,400 to people without insurance but only $400 to an insurance company. Of course, you will most likely need to contribute to your insurer’s cost, but even paying $300 of your settlement money for the MRI is better than sacrificing $1,400.
You have to keep one concept at the forefront of your mind. At the end of the day, it is about healing and getting better. If you skimp on your body and the medical care, it is only you at age 60 limping along; the insurance company won’t be there. Scrape, borrow and beg to get to the Doctor, it will pay dividends for your health down the road. As an aside keep in mind that the other driver’s insurance is grinning ear to ear if you cannot afford medical care and stay home for that reason.
Use your common sense and if it is a real injury, make sure you don’t shortchange your body.