Auto Accident Injuries and Insurance

We specialize in treating soft tissue injuries resulting from auto accidents; particularly whiplash injuires. Whiplash from motor vehicle accidents is thought to be a major cause of late-developing chronic neck pain, headaches and stiffness. Even low-speed accidents can generate enough kinetic energy to cause microscopic ligament and muscle tears and vertebral misalignments.  It is important to make sure that these injuries are properly treated to prevent problems from resurfacing in the future.

If you carry Medical Payments (Med Pay) coverage under your auto insurance policy, it will most likely cover 100% of necessary medical treatment up to your policy limit, regardless of who is at fault.  If you are not at fault, you can use your Med Pay insurance to get proper medical care without fear of having your rates go up.  If you have regular health insurance through your employer, it may require you to utilize your auto insurance Med Pay first, or prove that you do not carry it under your auto insurance policy, before it covers treatment for injuries sustained in a car accident.

If you were a passenger in someone else’s car and are injured in an accident, you should get the car owner’s auto insurance information.   In this scenario, the car owner’s Med Pay coverage, should he have it, will cover your medical care up to the policy limit.  You may also be able to use your own Med Pay coverage, even though your car was not involved, without fear of having your rates go up.  Check with your insurance agent.

If you do not have Med Pay coverage and were involved in a car accident, you were not at fault, you require medical care, and your car requires repair, then you should make sure to get the insurance information of the party at fault.  This is called Third Party insurance.  Third Party insurance does not accept claims from medical providers; they only reimburse the claimant (you in this case) directly for his/her medical bills and auto repair bills.  It is this clinic’s policy in Third Party cases to require payment for services at the time that they are rendered, or to bill the patient’s Med Pay policy directly.  However, in some cases where the patient is represented by an experienced personal injury attorney, we may at our discretion treat the patient on a personal injury attorney lien. In this scenario, the patient will not have to pay for treatment at the time of the visit. Instead, the patient agrees to pay for his/her final medical bill with proceeds from his/her settlement.

For additional information, see our office Financial Policies.

Still have questions? Call us at (415) 627-9077 x1

for a complimentary phone consultation.