I’ve Been Injured in a Car Accident and Can’t Work, Now What?

Paying Your Bills Without a Paycheck Can Be A Stressful Challenge

When you suffer injuries in a car accident and can’t work, the financial impact of not earning a paycheck can hit almost as hard as the actual crash. Recovering from the physical pain, loss of mobility and other practical effects of your injury is difficult enough. But the inability to support yourself and your family for weeks, months or even years will touch every aspect of your life – your day-to-day activities, relationships, and mental and emotional well-being.

Of all the ways that being out of work for an extended period upends your life, perhaps none is more stressful, worrying, and urgent than figuring out how you’re going to pay for medical expenses and all of the other bills that come due every month – rent, groceries, utilities, etc.

Coming to terms with your accident and injuries, as you look at mounting bills you can’t pay and experience frustration, anger, or despair about your circumstances can be overwhelming, especially if you don’t know how to improve the situation.

If you ask yourself, “Now what?” after you were injured in a car accident and can’t work, here are some answers to help you navigate a financially challenging time.

Paying Medical Bills

When you have been in a car accident and can’t work, the last thing you want to think about is paying the medical bills resulting from the crash. There are two avenues available to help you pay these bills.

Hopefully, you have health insurance to bear the brunt of the costs of your post-accident treatment and care. If you do, your insurer will pay for your care and treatment costs according to the benefits outlined in your specific plan. Of course, you may still be on the hook for some of your medical expenses, such as your deductible, copays, and services, which your plan only partially covers.

In addition, you will want to make a claim with your car insurance company and the at-fault driver’s insurer. You pay your auto insurance premium every month because your insurer agrees to cover your medical expenses and other losses (such as repairing or replacing your vehicle) if you are in an accident.

Your Insurers Pay Your Bills, But They’ll Want to Get Paid Back

One of the reasons individuals who have been in a car accident and can’t work file lawsuits is to get compensation from the negligent party’s insurance company to cover current expenses and any future medical costs incurred because of the injury. If you prevail in your suit or agree to a settlement, part of those damages will reimburse you for any amounts you’ve paid out-of-pocket for your care.

But a damage award or settlement should cover all the costs of your care, including the large sums paid by your health or auto insurance company. Your insurer will want to recoup the amounts it had to shell out because of the defendant’s negligence. It will enforce its “subrogation rights” to any settlement or judgment by filing a lien with the court for the amounts it paid for your care under your policy.

If insurance isn’t available to cover your medical bills while you wait for the outcome of your personal injury lawsuit, your car accident lawyer can help.

While fighting on your behalf to get compensation from the party responsible for your injuries, your lawyer can simultaneously work directly with your medical providers to delay some or all of your bills until the conclusion of your case or work out a more manageable payment plan.

Related: What To Do If Your Colorado Car Accident Claim Is Denied By The Insurance Company

Paying Other Expenses

Of course, medical bills aren’t the only invoices hitting your mailbox or inbox. While you await the proceeds of a settlement or verdict in your personal injury lawsuit, you have plenty of other financial obligations to meet. These bills can create severe anxiety for Coloradans who are injured in a car accident and can’t work.

While some people may have savings or other resources to fall back on, many people live paycheck-to-paycheck. And when there is no paycheck for months, families may struggle to keep a roof over their heads, the lights on, and their children fed.

Here are some steps you can take to help manage bills until you can get back to work:

Evaluate Your Expenses

Make a list of all your bills, including rent/mortgage, utilities, car payments, credit cards, insurance, and any other regular payments and prioritize them based on their importance.

Reach Out To Creditors

Silence and denial are the worst approaches when you struggle or fall behind on your bills. Contact your creditors, explain your situation and ask if any options are available to help you manage your payments. You may be surprised t how many of your creditors will be willing to work with you once they know the circumstances.

Explore Options For Disability Benefits

There are two ways that you may receive disability benefits.

• First, many employers offer short-term disability insurance to their employees. If you can access such a plan, filing a claim may provide much-needed financial relief.
• Second, if your injury keeps you off the job for a long time, you may be eligible for Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits or other programs through the State of Colorado (such as food assistance) that can help cover your expenses.

 

Injured In a Car Accident and Can’t Work? Don’t Face an Uncertain Future Alone.

Of course, a mountain of bills is only part of what you lose after someone else’s negligence injures you in a car accident. Your pain and suffering, a life that may never be entirely the same – you deserve compensation for all the damage done by the party responsible for your car accident injury.

The experienced Colorado Springs personal injury and accident attorneys at King & Beaty can help you recover the maximum compensation available for your losses.

Please contact us today to arrange for your free initial consultation.