Will My Auto Insurance Company Cover the Cost of Ambulance Ride After a Car Accident?
Many car accident victims are reluctant to take an ambulance ride for one reason: Taking a ride to the hospital emergency room can be ridiculously expensive.
Under the Florida Statutes Section 627.7407, Florida is a no-fault auto insurance state, which means injured victims must file a claim with their own insurance company to seek reimbursement for the damages regardless of fault.
But will your auto insurance company pay for the cost of an ambulance ride following an automobile crash? That’s a tricky question. Many insurers refuse to pay for ambulance rides by arguing that the ride was not “medically necessary.”
When this happens, you should consult with a Miami car accident attorney to dispute the denial of your claim and help you get reimbursed for the ambulance ride, hospital bills, and other losses.
Should You Take an Ambulance After a Car Crash?
If you sustained a life-threatening or serious injury, you would be transported to a hospital in an ambulance following a car accident. However, if you are conscious and your injury does not seem to be serious, the police officer or emergency medical technicians (EMTs) who arrived at the scene might ask you if you want to take an ambulance ride.
Many people avoid taking an ambulance to the hospital because ambulance rides are known to be very expensive, and there is no guarantee that their insurance company will agree to pay for it.
It is advised to take an ambulance if you experience any of the following symptoms:
- Suspected broken or fractured bones
- Blurry vision
- Dizziness
- Disorientation
- Numbness
- Back pain
- Changes in function or personality
- Loss of hearing, sight, or any other senses
- Intense headache
Also, if you do not feel safe driving yourself to a hospital following a car accident, consider taking an ambulance to see a doctor or call your family member or friend to pick you up.
Seeing a doctor after a car accident can strengthen your personal injury claim and allow you to document the extent of your injuries. Failure to visit a physician immediately after the collision may give your insurance company grounds to question the severity of your injury.
Will Your Insurance Company Cover the Ambulance Ride After a Car Accident?
Generally, insurance companies will cover hospital bills and medical expenses, including the cost of an ambulance ride, associated with the policyholder’s car accident injury.
However, the insurer may argue that taking an ambulance after a car crash was not “medically necessary” and refuse to pay for it. For this reason, it is advised to seek help from an experienced lawyer to help you prove that an ambulance ride was medically necessary under your particular circumstances.
If you have a reasonable belief that you need an ambulance ride to the hospital because (a) you have sustained a serious injury or (b) you simply do not feel safe or comfortable driving yourself to a doctor, do not reject the ride when EMTs ask you if you need help getting to the ER.
You may want to discuss your particular situation with a skilled car accident lawyer in Miami to help you prove that you made the right decision and that taking an ambulance was “medically necessary.” Contact our Miami car accident attorneys at Pita Weber Del Prado to schedule a case review. Call at 305-670-2889.
