What Happens If You’re Injured in a Car Accident You Caused?
What Happens If You’re Injured in a Car Accident You Caused?
You caused a car accident. Now you’re dealing with insurance calls, vehicle damage, and everything else that follows a crash.
But there’s another problem.
You’re hurting, too.
Maybe your neck became stiff later that evening. Your lower back hurts when you get out of bed. Your shoulder is sore from the seat belt, or you’ve developed headaches since the collision.
That raises a question many Ohio drivers don’t know how to answer:
Can you get medical treatment for your own injuries if you caused the car accident?
Yes. Being at fault for a collision does not prevent you from seeking medical care.
At Atlantic Medical Group, we provide car accident injury evaluations and treatment for patients throughout Northeast Ohio. If you were injured in a crash, determining fault and determining whether you need medical care are two separate issues.
Your own automobile insurance policy may also contain coverage that could help with eligible medical expenses, even if the accident was your fault.
Can an At-Fault Driver Receive Medical Treatment in Ohio?
Yes.
You don’t have to be the innocent driver in a collision to sustain an injury.
During a crash, your body can experience sudden acceleration, deceleration, impact, and twisting forces. These forces may affect your muscles, joints, spine, and other areas regardless of who caused the accident.
At-fault drivers can experience symptoms and injuries including:
- Whiplash
- Neck pain
- Lower back pain
- Upper back pain
- Shoulder injuries
- Knee injuries
- Headaches
- Muscle strains and sprains
- Joint stiffness
- Soft tissue injuries
- Numbness or tingling
- Reduced range of motion
- Concussion symptoms
Some problems may be noticeable at the accident scene. Others may become more apparent later.
If you’re experiencing symptoms after a Northeast Ohio car accident, don’t use fault as a reason to automatically ignore them.
If I Caused the Accident, Who Pays My Medical Bills?
This depends on your individual insurance coverage.
Liability insurance generally helps cover eligible bodily injury and property damage claims when you cause harm to other people.
But what about your injuries?
Your own medical expenses may be handled through other coverage. One type of auto insurance that can be particularly important for an injured at-fault driver is Medical Payments Coverage, commonly known as MedPay.
What Is Medical Payments Coverage?
MedPay is optional automobile insurance coverage that may help pay eligible medical expenses resulting from an auto accident, subject to the terms and limits of the policy.
Here’s the part that’s especially important for at-fault drivers:
MedPay is generally designed to provide applicable medical benefits regardless of who caused the collision.
Imagine that you accidentally rear-end another vehicle.
Your liability insurance may address eligible injuries suffered by people in the other vehicle. However, the collision also causes you to experience significant neck and back pain.
If your auto policy includes applicable MedPay coverage, you may have benefits available to help with eligible medical expenses related to your own injuries.
Coverage varies by insurance carrier and individual policy. Always contact your insurer to determine what benefits apply to your specific accident.
Does MedPay Cover You When an Accident Is Your Fault?
Potentially, yes.
MedPay generally isn’t dependent upon another driver being legally responsible for your injuries.
If you purchased Medical Payments Coverage, eligible accident-related medical expenses may potentially be covered up to your policy limits, even when you caused the crash.
That makes checking your policy especially important if you’re injured and don’t have another driver’s liability insurance available to address your medical expenses.
How Do You Find Out If You Have MedPay?
Take a look at the declarations page of your automobile insurance policy.
You may see terms such as:
- Medical Payments
- Medical Payments Coverage
- Medical Expense Coverage
- MedPay
Can’t find it?
Call your insurance carrier or agent and ask directly:
“Does my auto policy include Medical Payments Coverage for injuries I sustained in this accident?”
If the answer is yes, consider asking:
- What is my coverage limit?
- Which accident-related medical expenses are eligible?
- How should medical bills be submitted?
- Is there a deadline for submitting expenses?
- What documentation is required?
Don’t assume you’re covered, but don’t assume you aren’t covered either.
Verify your benefits.
Do I Need to File a Personal Injury Claim to Receive Treatment?
No.
Seeking treatment for a car accident injury and pursuing a personal injury claim against another driver are not the same thing.
You don’t need another driver to be legally responsible for the accident before you can have your own injuries evaluated.
This distinction matters for at-fault drivers.
If you caused the collision, you may not have another driver’s insurance company responsible for your medical expenses. However, you can still seek appropriate medical care and determine whether your own insurance benefits or other payment options may apply.
What If It Was a Single-Vehicle Accident?
Another common misconception is that car accident injury care only applies when two vehicles collide.
Consider the number of ways a single-car accident can happen in Northeast Ohio.
A driver might:
- Lose control on an icy road
- Slide on wet pavement
- Hit a deer
- Strike a guardrail
- Collide with a stationary object
- Swerve to avoid an obstacle and leave the roadway
You can sustain an injury even when there isn’t another driver involved.
If you’re hurt in a single-vehicle crash, review your own auto insurance policy and determine whether you have MedPay or other applicable coverage for accident-related medical expenses.
What If You Don’t Feel Pain Until the Next Day?
Not every car accident symptom is obvious immediately after a collision.
You might initially be focused on exchanging information, talking with police, arranging transportation, calling your insurance company, or dealing with your damaged vehicle.
Later, you may begin noticing:
- Neck stiffness
- Lower back pain
- Shoulder soreness
- Headaches
- Knee or hip pain
- Muscle tenderness
- Reduced range of motion
- Numbness or tingling
- Dizziness
- Difficulty concentrating
Pay attention to new, persistent, or worsening symptoms after an accident.
Some symptoms may require immediate emergency care. Seek appropriate emergency medical attention for potentially serious symptoms such as loss of consciousness, confusion, severe or worsening headache, significant weakness, breathing difficulties, or other signs of a medical emergency.
Why Do At-Fault Drivers Sometimes Avoid Getting Treatment?
Sometimes insurance isn’t the biggest barrier.
Guilt is.
When you’ve caused an accident, your attention may be focused entirely on the people in the other vehicle.
You might think:
“This was my fault. I shouldn’t be worried about myself.”
But accepting responsibility for an accident doesn’t require you to ignore an injury.
You can be concerned about the other people involved while also paying attention to your own health.
A mistake behind the wheel doesn’t prevent your neck from being injured. It doesn’t stop your back from hurting. And it doesn’t mean you should automatically dismiss new symptoms.
Fault determines responsibility for the accident. It doesn’t determine whether you’re injured.
Frequently Asked Questions About At-Fault Driver Injury Treatment
Can I get medical treatment if I caused a car accident?
Yes. An at-fault driver can seek medical evaluation and treatment for injuries sustained in the collision.
Can my own auto insurance help pay my medical bills?
Possibly. If you purchased Medical Payments Coverage, you may have benefits available for eligible accident-related medical expenses. Coverage depends on your individual policy.
Does MedPay work regardless of fault?
MedPay is generally designed to provide applicable medical coverage regardless of who caused an accident, subject to policy terms, exclusions, and limits.
Is MedPay automatically included in every Ohio auto insurance policy?
No. Don’t assume you have MedPay. Review your declarations page or contact your insurance company to determine whether Medical Payments Coverage is included in your policy.
Can I receive accident injury care if I’m not suing another driver?
Yes. Medical treatment does not require you to pursue a personal injury lawsuit against another person.
Can a single-car accident cause serious pain?
Yes. A single-vehicle collision can expose the body to significant forces even when another vehicle isn’t involved.
Should I get checked if my pain started after the accident?
New, persistent, or worsening symptoms following a collision should not automatically be dismissed. A healthcare provider can evaluate your symptoms and determine whether additional care is appropriate.
Car Accident Injury Care at Atlantic Medical Group
If you caused a car accident and you’re now experiencing pain, don’t assume you have no options.
At Atlantic Medical Group, we provide car accident injury evaluations and care for patients throughout Northeast Ohio.
Depending on your injuries and individual needs, appropriate care may include chiropractic care, physical rehab, diagnostic evaluation, and other accident injury treatment options.
If you were the at-fault driver, check your automobile insurance policy for Medical Payments Coverage. Your own policy may contain benefits that could apply to eligible accident-related medical expenses.
Most importantly, don’t let one assumption keep you from addressing your health:
“The accident was my fault, so I can’t get treatment.”
That’s not the case.
You don’t have to be the driver who was hit to be injured in a car accident.
If you’re experiencing neck pain, back pain, headaches, stiffness, or other symptoms after a crash, contact Atlantic Medical Group to schedule an injury evaluation.
