How are Medical Bills Paid or Covered Following a Motor Scooter Accident?

When a person is injured while operating a motor scooter, there are a number of challenges and issues that arise. One such challenge involves the payment or coverage for medical bills. Assuming that another driver is at fault for the injuries to the motor scooter operator or rider, there can be a variety of payment sources for the medical bills that are related to the motor scooter accident.

It should be noted that insurance for a motor scooter in the State of Florida is optional. As such, a motor scooter owner may decide to save money and not carry any insurance on the motor scooter for property damage and / or personal injuries. If the motor scooter own decides to forego insurance coverage, this will, in turn, limit the benefits or coverage available to the motor scooter personal injury victim.

Here are some sources of recovery or payment for medical bills:

Medical Payment Insurance Coverage. This is optional coverage. If the motor scooter owner obtained coverage, medical payment insurance coverage may cover the motor scooter accident related medical care. The amount of medical insurance coverage can be as low as $500 and under some policies be $20,000 or more. It all depends on the insurance coverage selected and paid for prior to the motor scooter accident. The motor scooter operator / rider may qualify for insurance coverage through the motor scooter. The motor scooter operator / rider will not quality for medical payment insurance coverage under the at-fault driver's automobile insurance policy. Through medical payment insurance coverage if it is available, bills are typically paid within 30 days of submission. Bills are paid on an ongoing basis until coverage is exhausted OR until the medical payment insurance adjuster determines that medical care is no longer needed or related to the motor scooter accident.

Health Insurance Coverage. If the motor scooter operator / rider had health insurance coverage, then medical bills related to the motor scooter accident can be submitted through health insurance. If there is medical payment coverage, the medical payment coverage may be primary to the motor scooter coverage. In other words, the health insurance carrier will expect medical payment to be the first payment source. For bills not paid for or covered by medical payment insurance, then health insurance will then kick in to pay for the medical bills. Medical bills are processed and paid for as submitted to the health insurance carrier and paid out on a periodic / ongoing basis.

Bodily Injury Insurance Coverage - At Fault Driver. If the at-fault driver carried bodily injury insurance coverage, medical bills may be covered under this type of coverage. However, bodily injury insurance coverage typically does not pay out on a periodic, ongoing basis. In other words, bodily injury insurance coverage typically pays out towards the end of treatment or the case in the form of a one-time settlement offer or pay out. As such, bodily injury insurance coverage is not much help when a motor scooter accident victim is seeking out medical care and needs a payment source that will begin paying immediately and / or on an ongoing basis.

Uninsured Motorist / Underinsured Motorist Insurance Coverage. If the motor scooter owner carried uninsured or underinsured motorist insurance coverage, this can also serve as a payment source. UM or UIM coverage will only apply when the bodily injury insurance coverage is paid out in full OR under the circumstance when the at-fault driver did not carry any bodily injury insurance coverage. Like bodily injury insurance coverage, UM or UIM coverage does not pay out on a periodic or ongoing basis. If UM / UIM pays for medical bills or a portion of the medical bills, it will typically only do so on a one-time settlement basis.

Letter of Protection. Some medical providers in the community understand the pressure placed on an injured motor scooter operator / rider. These understanding medical providers will, in certain cases, provide medical care under what is called a letter of protection. This is a document in which the motor scooter accident victim promises to pay the medical doctor in the future with the payment of proceeds from the bodily injury and / or uninsured / underinsured motorist settlement.

Following a motor scooter accident, there are a number of challenges and issues that face the injured motor scooter operator or rider. David Wolf is an experienced personal injury attorney who represents injury victims following a motor scooter, motorcycle, bicycle, and related accidents / collision. With over 30 years of experience in the field of personal injury, David Wolf can provide you with advice, guidance, and legal representation. Protect and enforce your legal rights today. Contact David Wolf at (904) 500-WOLF or (904) 500-9653. You can also e-mail Attorney David Wolf at dwolf@davidalanwolf.com