Eventually. But really, not until you settle the lawsuit. And not when you want or need them to.
The trucker’s insurance doesn’t have to pay anything until (1)they settle your lawsuit or until (2)there is a judgment against the person they insure. Which means there has to be a trial. Which means a delay of a year after suit is filed.
When it happens, that payment will come as a lump sum. It will be your responsibility to pay your medical bills, and anything else you owe, out of that lump sum.
So what does an insurance company do when a trucker it insures hurts you? It doesn’t call you up and offer to pay your medical bills. Maybe it pays a few bills – an emergency room bill, or an ambulance. But even if it does this much – and most don’t – it will stop when it becomes clear more treatment is needed.
Then you will get a call from the adjuster, telling you he might give you more money, but only if you sign a release. And once you sign the release, the money stops.
Why? Because once you sign a release, you have no way of making the insurance company pay you any more money.
And the insurance company thinks it doesn’t makes sense to pay money unless you are willing to sign a release. To the insurance company, you are a problem it wants to be over.
What can you do about this? Your best option is to use your health insurance to pay your medical bills. If you don’t have health insurance, you still might have Medical payments (Medpay) coverage, which often provides up to $10,000 to pay auto accident medical bills, and is part of your auto insurance.
If the accident happened in Kentucky, or if your car is insured in Kentucky, Kentucky PIP or nofault may pay your bills – again up to $10,000.00.
If you don’t have health insurance or medpay coverage, you may be able to get treated at a public hospital, like University Hospital in Cincinnati, or at another hospital that will treat you without proof of insurance. These hospitals are harder and harder to find, but they are there.
And by the way, everything I said about the trucker’s insurance also goes for car insurance. Car insurance companies won’t contribute substantially to your medical bills before settlement either. I will talk about why in another blog.
If you have this question, you should call me. I am a Cincinnati personal injury lawyer.
I’d love to talk with you about this. Other lawyers refer their clients to me. And if you decide you‘d rather hire someone else, that’s OK. My phone is 513-621-4775.
Because all situations are different, and because there may be other facts pertaining to your case that I don’t know about, you should not rely on this answer for legal advice. I am not your attorney, and no lawyer client relationship has been formed. All discussions are limited to Ohio law unless otherwise indicated. And past performance cannot be used to predict future results.
{ 0 comments… add one }