If you were injured in a motorcycle accident and had to go to the hospital, they might ask questions about your health insurance and, ultimately, the hospital might bill you and your medical insurance company for your treatment. However, the injuries from a serious motorcycle accident might be incredibly severe, resulting in very expensive medical bills. While your medical insurance might cover some of these damages, this is usually not the best way to have your injuries covered. the Baltimore motorcycle accident lawyers at Rice, Murtha & Psoras explain.
What Insurance Policy Covers Motorcycle Accident Injuries in Maryland?
People carry insurance for all sorts of things. Some of the most common insurance policies you might have are a medical/health insurance policy to cover treatment and preventative care; a homeowners or renters insurance policy to cover damage to your house, damage to your property, and injuries to yourself and others at home; and an auto insurance policy to cover injuries you cause behind the wheel in a car accident or motorcycle accident. In reality, a motorcycle accident could involve any of these policies, but when it comes to efficiently and effectively covering your injuries, it is often the case that none of these offer the right coverage.
Health/Medical Insurance
When you are injured or sick and go to the hospital or the doctor, your health insurance will cover your care. This might require paying a deductible, and you pay monthly premiums for this care anyway, so this means you are still paying out-of-pocket for some of these costs. After a motorcycle accident injury, you will face other damages, too – such as lost wages from your injuries, damage to your motorcycle, and pain and suffering. Your health insurance will not pay for any of these other damages.
Homeowners/Renters Insurance
Similarly, your homeowners or renters insurance might cover some injuries that you and your family face, including in vehicle accidents, depending on the terms of the policy. However, this insurance is not specialized in covering these damages and might only be supplemental.
Auto Insurance
Lastly, auto insurance in Maryland is “fault-based” or “at-fault,” meaning that the at-fault driver’s insurance covers injuries from a crash. If you have auto insurance, it is designed to cover injuries that you cause someone else in an accident. If you were the one who was injured, your insurance will not cover anything for you unless you have PIP (personal injury protection) benefits or first-party benefits added to your policy. Even if you do have these benefits, the coverage from auto insurance policies might cover only a portion of your medical bills and lost wages, and it will not cover damages for pain and suffering.
Instead of relying on insurance to cover your expenses after a serious motorcycle accident in Maryland, you might be better off filing a personal injury lawsuit in Maryland through the court system to get the compensation you need.
Filing a Lawsuit to Cover Medical Expenses from a Maryland Motorcycle Injury Case
If your medical bills are high, you will likely face other damages for your motorcycle injury case as well. Serious injuries often lead to time off work during your recovery or perhaps even permanent injuries that will keep you from returning to work. You will also likely face repair or replacement costs for your motorcycle, as well as other property damage for clothes, cell phones, and other property damaged in the crash. Lastly, your injuries will have caused substantial pain and suffering to you. the most effective way of getting these damages covered is usually to file a lawsuit in court.
Courts can order compensation for any expenses that you face in a motorcycle accident case, including the ones listed above. When you file an insurance claim, the damages that you get will be limited by the insurance policy. For instance, medical bills will be covered by your medical insurance, but you will likely pay a percentage or a copay as part of your deductible, and that insurance will do nothing to pay for your lost wages or vehicle damage. Even with a combination of insurance policies, your damages will likely not be paid in full.
Instead of using your own insurance and out-of-pocket payments to deal with your injuries, a lawsuit allows you to hold the at-fault driver who hit you accountable for your injuries. the courts can hold the at-fault driver responsible and force them to pay for all damages. Usually, their insurance will supplement these payments, allowing you to get potentially full coverage for medical bills, lost wages, property damage, and pain and suffering. If you pay some expenses through your own medical insurance, you should be able to recoup the money you had to pay through such a lawsuit.
Talk to a lawyer about how to calculate damages in your case and for help understanding the best way to get your bills paid and your injuries treated. In some cases, jumping the gun and having an insurance company pay your bills might actually hurt your case later. In some cases, accepting insurance money from the at-fault driver could even qualify as a settlement, blocking you from claiming additional damages in court. Talk to an attorney before spending any money or accepting any money for your medical care, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other motorcycle accident damages.
Call Our Baltimore, MD Motorcycle Injury Lawyers for a Free Case Consultation
If you or a loved one was seriously injured in a motorcycle accident in Baltimore or anywhere in Maryland, the payments from medical insurance and other insurance policies are unlikely to cover your injuries in full. Call our Baltimore personal injury lawyers today to discuss filing a personal injury lawsuit to get the full compensation you are entitled to. Rice, Murtha & Psoras can be reached at (410) 694-7291.