Who Pays Your Medical Bills After a Car Accident in Michigan?

A car accident can leave you dealing with much more than vehicle damage. Emergency room treatment, diagnostic testing, surgery, physical therapy, prescription medications, and follow-up appointments can quickly lead to significant medical expenses. If you were injured in a crash in Ann Arbor or elsewhere in Michigan, one of your first questions may be: Who is responsible for paying my medical bills?

Michigan’s no-fault auto insurance system is designed to provide medical benefits after an accident, but determining which insurance company is responsible—and how much it must pay—is not always straightforward. Your Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage, health insurance, the circumstances of the accident, and the coverage you selected can all affect how your medical expenses are handled.

At Biggs & Gunst P.C., our Ann Arbor personal injury attorneys help people injured in auto accidents understand their insurance benefits, address disputes with insurers, and pursue the compensation available to them under Michigan law.

How Does Michigan No-Fault Insurance Cover Medical Bills?

Michigan operates under a no-fault auto insurance system. Generally, this means that certain benefits may be available following a motor vehicle accident regardless of which driver caused the crash.

One important component is Personal Injury Protection (PIP) medical coverage. PIP medical benefits can pay allowable medical expenses resulting from injuries suffered in an auto accident, subject to the coverage that applies to the injured person.

Michigan drivers can select from different levels of PIP medical coverage. Depending on eligibility, these can include unlimited medical coverage or coverage limits of $500,000, $250,000, or $50,000. Certain eligible individuals may also choose exclusions or opt out of PIP medical coverage.

Because coverage varies from policy to policy, you should not assume that another person's experience following a Michigan car accident will be the same as yours. Biggs & Gunst P.C. can review the insurance policies and circumstances surrounding your accident to help determine what benefits may be available.

What Medical Expenses Can PIP Benefits Cover?

When applicable, Michigan no-fault benefits can provide important financial assistance with accident-related medical care. Biggs & Gunst P.C. notes that Michigan's no-fault system may provide benefits for medical expenses as well as rehabilitation, attendant care, transportation costs, lost wages, and other qualifying expenses.

Depending on your injuries and applicable coverage, medical-related expenses following a serious collision might include:

• Emergency transportation and emergency room care
• Hospital stays
• Physician and specialist appointments
• Surgery
• Diagnostic testing and imaging
• Prescription medications
• Physical and occupational therapy
• Rehabilitation
• Certain attendant care
• Other qualifying accident-related treatment

Problems can arise when an insurer questions whether treatment was related to the accident, disputes whether care was necessary, or refuses to pay a bill. If you encounter problems obtaining benefits after a collision, Biggs & Gunst P.C. can help you understand your rights and options under Michigan law.

Does Health Insurance Pay Medical Bills After a Michigan Car Accident?

Health insurance can sometimes play a role in paying medical expenses after an auto accident. Exactly how your health insurance and auto insurance interact will depend on your policies and the PIP medical coverage you selected.

This issue is particularly important because Michigan allows some qualifying drivers to exclude certain individuals from PIP medical coverage or opt out of PIP medical coverage altogether. For example, an eligible person with Medicare Parts A and B may select the PIP medical opt-out. Other exclusions and lower coverage options have their own eligibility requirements.

The Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services also warns that people who rely on qualified health coverage after opting out of or being excluded from PIP medical coverage can face significant consequences if that health coverage ends. Depending on the circumstances and timing, an individual could ultimately become personally responsible for medical bills.

If there is uncertainty about which insurer should pay your accident-related medical expenses, speaking with Biggs & Gunst P.C. can help you understand the coverage that may apply to your particular situation.

What If You Were a Passenger, Pedestrian, or Cyclist?

You do not necessarily have to be driving a vehicle to potentially qualify for no-fault benefits after a Michigan motor vehicle accident.

Passengers, pedestrians, and cyclists injured in accidents involving motor vehicles may have rights to no-fault benefits depending on the circumstances. Biggs & Gunst P.C. specifically assists people injured in traffic-related accidents with determining their eligibility for benefits, including individuals who may not personally carry no-fault insurance.

Determining which insurer is responsible can become more complicated when the injured person was not driving. Instead of trying to determine coverage alone while recovering from an injury, consider having an attorney investigate which insurance policy should respond to the claim.

What Happens If the Insurance Company Refuses to Pay Your Medical Bills?

Having insurance does not guarantee that every claim will proceed smoothly. An insurer may dispute a medical bill, question the connection between your treatment and the accident, request additional documentation, or deny benefits.

Unpaid medical expenses can place additional pressure on someone who is already dealing with pain, time away from work, and the disruption caused by a serious accident.

Biggs & Gunst P.C. represents individuals in Michigan no-fault claims and can evaluate a dispute involving unpaid benefits. The firm's personal injury practice includes auto accidents, no-fault claims, and third-party accident claims.

Getting legal guidance early can also help you avoid mistakes that could make an insurance dispute more difficult.

Can You Seek Compensation From the At-Fault Driver?

Michigan's no-fault system does not necessarily prevent an injured person from pursuing additional compensation against a negligent driver.

When another driver's negligence causes qualifying serious injuries, an injured person may be able to pursue a third-party claim in addition to available no-fault benefits. Such claims can potentially provide compensation for losses that are not covered through the no-fault system, including pain and suffering and other damages when Michigan's legal requirements are satisfied.

This distinction is important. Your claim may involve more than simply determining who pays the initial hospital bill. A significant injury can affect your ability to work, care for your family, participate in activities, and live your everyday life.

The attorneys at Biggs & Gunst P.C. can evaluate both the no-fault and potential third-party aspects of an accident to identify avenues of compensation that may apply.

Why Work With Biggs & Gunst P.C. After a Michigan Car Accident?

Insurance claims can become difficult at precisely the time when an injured person needs to focus on medical treatment and recovery. Biggs & Gunst P.C. helps clients navigate auto accident claims, no-fault benefits, and potential third-party claims while keeping them informed about the legal process.

Based in Ann Arbor and serving Southeast Michigan, the firm handles personal injury matters including auto, motorcycle, bicycle, and truck accidents, along with no-fault and third-party claims. The firm offers free initial consultations, and its personal injury cases are handled on a contingency fee basis, meaning clients do not pay attorney fees unless the firm wins their case.

Whether you are struggling with unpaid medical bills, trying to determine which insurance company is responsible, or wondering whether you can pursue additional compensation from a negligent driver, Biggs & Gunst P.C. can review your circumstances and explain your legal options.

Injured in a Michigan Car Accident? Contact Biggs & Gunst P.C.

Medical bills can accumulate quickly after a collision, and determining who should pay them can become complicated under Michigan's no-fault insurance laws. You do not have to navigate insurance coverage, unpaid medical expenses, and a potential injury claim on your own.

If you or a loved one has been injured in an auto accident in Ann Arbor or elsewhere in Southeast Michigan, contact Biggs & Gunst P.C. to discuss your case. The firm's attorneys can review your insurance coverage, help determine what benefits may be available, and pursue compensation when appropriate.

Call Biggs & Gunst P.C. at 734-263-2320 today to schedule a consultation with an attorney.