Car Accidents, Hospital Bills, and Insurance Concerns

A couple in North Carolina had to get the husband’s snakebite treated in the hospital. After being handed a heart-stopping bill for $89,000 for an 18-hour emergency stay, four vials of antivenom and other medical costs, their insurance coverage and Medicare eventually reduced the cost to about $5,400. There were more than 75 snake bites treated in WakeMed hospitals in 2020 alone.

The real question is what would this couple have done without health insurance? The cost for medical treatment, as everyone can attest, has skyrocketed. When people are injured in a car accident or through another personal injury incident, it is not unusual for their trip to the ER to cost tens of thousands of dollars. 

Car accidents - First Steps

If you are injured in a car accident, the first thing to do is seek medical attention. You should not worry about the cost while getting the medical treatment that you need. If the accident was caused by another driver, their insurance should cover your expenses. In North Carolina, the minimum insurance coverage requirements are $30,000 for bodily injury of each person, $60,000 total for bodily injury for all persons in an accident and $25,000 for property damage caused by the accident. 

Underinsured Motorist Coverage

These minimums may not be enough to cover all of your expenses. For example, if you are injured in an auto accident in Concord, NC caused by another driver and your medical bills total $50,000.00, if the other driver only has a $30,000.00 policy, you will owe your medical providers $20,000.00. In North Carolina, drivers are also required to carry underinsured motorists (UIM) coverage in order to help people cover this difference if needed. It is important to note that the insurance company will not provide this additional coverage if you or your attorney settle a bodily injury or property damage without the insurance company’s written consent. This is why having an experienced car accident lawyer is so important in cases like this.

Lawyers from Rosensteel Fleishman, PLLC listen to the victim’s families, because they want to minimize the stress and confusion that comes with handling medical bills, insurance claims, and auto repairs all while trying to heal from injuries or worse, grieve the loss of a family member.

Our personal injury lawyers abide by the following guidelines:

• No fee will be charged for the first meeting, wherein the client or their loved ones will speak with one of the lawyers to determine the initial details and strategies for the case.
• All communications from the client will be replied to, be it phone calls, e-mails, or letters.
• All clients will be treated with dignity and respect.
• All lawyers assigned will work to get the best possible result for the case, depending on the client’s wishes or parameters.

If you or a loved one has been injured in an automobile accident, call our office today at 704-714-1450 for a free, no-obligation consultation about your case. We are here to help you and your family navigate through the paperwork and negotiations to get the settlement you need and deserve.