There can be no question that healthcare costs are on the rise. Any Californian who makes regular doctor visits can usually factor the healthcare costs into the household budget if medical insurance premiums do not cover the full costs. But what happens if health care costs skyrocket due to an accident.
KQED recently profiled a San Francisco resident who struggling under a pile of medical debt after being involved in a motorcycle accident with an uninsured driver. The man was on his motorcycle last October, just a few blocks from his apartment when an uninsured driver blew through a stop sign and slammed into the San Francisco motorcyclist.
The man knew he had health coverage and he did not worry about the expenses that the motorcycle accident may bring. The man was taken to San Francisco General Hospital after the accident. A broken bone in his leg broke through the skin. The man needed emergency surgery. The motorcycle accident victim was hospitalized for six days after the accident.
As he recovered from the serious injuries, the bills started to come in. The other driver was not insured and the motorcyclist’s own insurance company deemed the hospital charges were too high. It refused to pay the balance. So the hospital is seeking the unpaid balance from the accident victim. He says he feels anger over the whole thing and questions why was it he that was hit in that intersection just a few blocks from home.
It is no secret that there are drivers on San Francisco roads that are underinsured, or do not carry any insurance altogether. Uninsured motorist and hit-and-run accidents are among some of the most complicated accident cases. After sustaining serious injuries in a bike or motorcycle accident, it is important to speak with an experienced San Francisco personal injury attorney for an assessment of an individual case.
Source: KQED, California Report, “Patients Face Mounting Medical Bills In Down Economy,” Sept. 12, 2011
