When you are injured in a car, boat, motorcycle or other accident, the first thing that usually happens is you are taken to an emergency room and if not unconscious or gravely hurt, the hospital will check you in and take your insurance information.  If someone else is at fault, it is important to identify for the hospital staff who else is responsible, and that you have medical payments insurance or “med pay” with your own car insurance company.  This is important so that the bills can be sent to your car insurance carrier before your medical insurance company processes and pays the bills.

Why?  When your attorney settles your case against the person at fault for the accident, under New Hampshire law, you have to pay back your medical insurance carrier the money that it paid the ambulance hospital, doctors, and physical therapy staff that treated you for your injury.  This is called a medical lien.  However, “med pay” will pay those bills up to your “med pay” policy limit if you submit the bills to your own car insurance company first. And the real benefit is that under New Hampshire law, when you settle your case, you can still claim as damages those bills paid by “med pay” and you do not have to pay “med pay” back.  This can make a real difference in the amount of money you can put in your pocket when you settle your case.

If you do not remember to tell the hospital, make sure to tell your lawyer right away that you have “med pay,” and who your car insurance company is so they can make sure the bills get processed correctly and you can get the most money possible out of your settlement.  Bring in the policy for your lawyer to review your “med pay” limits.   At Douglas, Leonard & Garvey we know the ins and outs of personal injury law and will ask you the important questions up front and make sure all of the details are handled for you to get you all the compensation you deserve.  For a free consultation about any personal injury you have suffered at no fault of your own, call the attorneys at Douglas, Leonard & Garvey or fill out our contact form.