If you were injured in a car or truck accident that was not your fault in Little Rock, Arkansas, you will likely have a stack of medical bills before too long. You might wonder who is going to pay those expenses or if you will get stuck with them.
The party who caused the collision should be responsible for the healthcare expenses of the people who were injured in the crash. A Little Rock personal injury attorney can handle your injury claim and answer your questions about who pays for medical bills after an accident.
Recoverable Damages After a Motor Vehicle Crash
Some of the common categories of monetary damages that people pursue from the at-fault party after a car accident include:
- Medical expenses. The reasonable cost of the medical treatment you need for your wounds is usually recoverable. This category can include things like the ambulance, emergency room, hospital, doctors, surgery, imaging studies like x-rays and CAT scans, diagnostic tests, lab work, physical therapy, and prescription drugs.
- Lost wages. If you missed time from work while recuperating, you can add this item to your injury claim. Also, you can include unpaid time when you attended doctor’s appointments, physical therapy sessions, and other healthcare services.
- Pain and suffering. This category addresses the physical discomfort, inconvenience, and emotional distress of the crash and your injuries.
You will want to talk to your lawyer about any additional items that might belong in your injury claim, based on the facts of your case.
How to Show Who is Liable for the Losses from a Car Collision
Arkansas law dictates who is responsible for a crash by evaluating these four factors:
- Did the other driver have a legal duty of care in the situation? Everyone who operates a motor vehicle on public roads has an obligation to follow traffic laws and drive carefully.
- Did the other driver breach his/her duty of care? Let’s say that the other driver was tailgating you. Following at an unsafe distance violates the law and the duty of care. When someone breaches his/her duty of care, he/she is negligent.
- The negligence must be what caused the accident that injured you. If the driver hit your vehicle from behind because he/she was tailgating, for example, his/her negligence caused the collision.
- You must have quantifiable losses to pursue a claim for compensation. Physical injuries satisfy this final element of liability for the accident, as do medical bills and more.
When we can prove all four of these factors, we can go after compensation for your losses from the negligent party.
You will want to work with a Little Rock personal injury attorney on your claim for compensation. In addition to handling your injury claim or lawsuit, your lawyer can advise you on how to deal with your medical bills and other financial losses while waiting for your claim to settle or go to trial. You might have options that will get those creditors off of your back until your case gets resolved. For help with your case, get in touch with our office today.
