How to Handle Medical Bills After a Car Accident in Wheeling, WV

Suffering injuries in a car accident in Wheeling, WV is stressful enough without the added burden of mounting medical bills.

If you’re worrying about your expenses after a crash, our experienced Wheeling car accident lawyers at the Miley Legal Group can help. I’ll guide you through your options to ensure you aren’t left paying for someone else’s negligence.

Who Will Pay For Your Medical Bills After a Car Accident?

West Virginia follows an at-fault (or tort-based) insurance system that states the driver responsible for the accident is liable for all resulting damages. But their insurance company won’t cover your medical bills immediately.

In many cases, accident victims must navigate multiple sources to cover costs while their legal claim is being processed. You have the right to seek compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and other damages after a car accident in Wheeling, WV due to another driver’s negligence. You can still pursue financial recovery through a legal claim even if the at-fault driver faces fines or penalties.

Medical bills can also add up quickly, including emergency care, surgeries, and rehabilitation, which can cost thousands.

Covering Medical Expenses Before Your Settlement

Here are the options available to cover your medical expenses after a car accident:

1. Health Insurance

Your health insurance may cover your medical expenses after an accident, but some insurance companies offer you less than you deserve. And you may still be responsible for copays, deductibles, and treatments not covered under your policy.

And when you receive a settlement, your health insurer may have the right to seek reimbursement for the amounts they paid through a process called subrogation—a legal claim allowing the insurer to recover its costs from your compensation.

2. Medical Payments (Med-Pay) Coverage

Some West Virginia drivers carry Medical Payments (Med-Pay) coverage as part of their auto insurance policy. Med-Pay helps pay for medical expenses regardless of who was at fault, making it a valuable option for covering immediate costs. Unlike health insurance, Med-Pay does not require reimbursement if you receive a settlement.

Med-Pay can cover:

• Hospital and ambulance fees
• Surgery and follow-up visits
• Physical therapy and rehabilitation
• Funeral expenses (in the event of a fatal accident)

3. The At-Fault Driver’s Insurance

If another driver was responsible for your accident, their insurance company is ultimately liable for your medical expenses. But this doesn’t mean immediate payment, it can take months or even years, and insurers often delay, dispute, or offer settlements that fail to cover your full medical costs.

4. Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage

If the at-fault driver is uninsured or underinsured, your own Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM) coverage can step in. This optional coverage, included in many West Virginia auto policies, helps fill the gap when the responsible driver lacks sufficient insurance.

Review your policy to see if you have UM/UIM coverage, as it can provide significant financial relief in these situations.

5. Medical Liens and How They Affect Your Settlement

A medical lien is a legal claim placed on your settlement by a healthcare provider, government program, or other party that covers your medical expenses. This means a portion of the recovery may be used to pay back medical bills before you receive compensation from a settlement or lawsuit.

These liens must be properly documented and negotiated.

For example, there’s a legislative code in West Virginia that allows Medicaid to place a lien for reimbursement of medical expenses paid on your behalf. Since there is no universal hospital lien law in West Virginia, private healthcare providers may have separate agreements for repayment.

These can also significantly impact how much money you actually take home from a settlement.

The good news is our legal team can negotiate these liens on your behalf, ensuring that you aren’t overpaying and receive the maximum possible compensation.

What If You Can’t Afford Medical Treatment?

For those without insurance or the ability to pay upfront, some medical providers in Wheeling work with personal injury attorneys on a treatment lien basis, meaning they provide care with the understanding that they will be paid from your eventual settlement.

Until your case is resolved, some doctors specialize in treating accident victims and may defer billing. Nonprofit hospitals or clinics may also offer sliding-scale payment options based on income.

Let us handle the legal battle for you

Dealing with medical bills after a car accident in Wheeling, WV can be overwhelming, especially when insurance companies try to delay, deny, or minimize payments.

You don’t have to face this alone, you may call our personal injury law firm to help you secure a fair settlement.

If you’re looking for Clarksburg car accident lawyers or any experienced West Virginia car accident lawyers, we are ready to review your case, explain your options, and fight to ensure you receive the full compensation you deserve.