Medical Bills After a Truck Accident

Medical bills can be astronomical depending on the injuries, the needed treatment, and where the treatment’s provided, no matter what kinds of vehicles are involved. Because trucks are heavier and deliver more force into another vehicle or pedestrian, injuries are likely to be more severe and costly to treat.

Common Injuries From Truck Accidents That Result in High Medical Bills

Many potential injuries can result from truck accidents, including:

Head injuries, such as concussions or traumatic brain injuries
Neck and back injuries, such as whiplash or herniated discs
Spinal cord injuries
Fractures or dislocations of bones
Soft tissue injuries, such as bruises or sprains
Internal injuries, such as organ damage or internal bleeding
Psychological injuries, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or depression

If you’re in an accident with a commercial truck, seek medical attention immediately, even if you think you’re unhurt. Because of the stress and shock of the situation, you may not feel all of your injuries, such as head injuries and internal injuries, but they can be severe and require prompt treatment. The more treatment’s delayed, the worse the injury may become.

Since commercial trucks are so dangerous, quickly getting medical care is also essential to protect your rights to compensation. The longer you delay, the more likely the insurance carrier will deny your injury is accident-related. They’ll claim you fabricated the injury, or it has another cause, and you’re fraudulently seeking compensation from them.

Medical Treatment Costs From Truck Accident Injuries

The cost of treating injuries from a truck accident can vary widely depending on the type and severity, where you’re treated, and the treatments you receive.

If you’re injured in a truck accident, you could be paying for:

Emergency room visit: $1,500 – $3,000
Hospitalization: $10,000 – $50,000 or more
Surgery: $20,000 – $100,000 or more
Rehabilitation: $10,000 – $50,000 or more
Long-term care: $50,000 – $200,000 or more

Minor injuries, like bruises and sprains, may have relatively inexpensive costs. But moderate to severe injuries, including head injuries, neck injuries, back injuries, internal injuries, and spinal cord injuries can be much more expensive to treat.

Many of these injuries require hospitalization, surgery, physical therapy, rehabilitation, and long-term care.

Long-Term Costs of Severe Truck Accident Injuries

If you are seriously injured in a truck accident, you may recover well enough to be discharged from the hospital but not well enough to return home. Depending on your injuries, you may need rehabilitation care to recover from your accident, which could last from days to months.

Like medical care, there are many variables to rehabilitation care. Some possible costs for long-term rehabilitation for truck accident injuries include:

Inpatient rehabilitation: $10,000 – $50,000 or more per month
Outpatient rehabilitation: $150 – $300 per session
Home health care: $50 – $200 per hour
Assisted living or nursing home care: $5,000 – $10,000 or more per month
Durable medical equipment: $1,000 – $5,000 or more

Physical Therapy Costs After a Truck Accident

It’s common for people injured in a truck accident to need physical therapy and occupational therapy. These typically cost:

Initial evaluation: $100 – $200
Follow-up visits: $75 – $150 per session

Actual costs will vary depending on the therapy you need, how long you need it, and the going rates in your area.

You may receive physical therapy during your hospital stay and/or at a rehabilitation facility. Physical therapy sessions can continue for up to six months or longer even after you’ve been discharged, to help treat your injuries and regain as much function as possible.

Psychological Treatment Costs From a Bad Truck Accident

Bad truck accidents can inflict more than just physical injuries. Many patients need psychological treatment to get over the trauma. Average costs often include:

Initial evaluation: $150 – $300
Follow-up visits: $100 – $200 per session
Medication costs: $50 – $200 per month

Psychologists and psychiatrists can help patients overcome stress and anxiety from the crash’s violence and emotional trauma. This can result in long-term emotional and psychological harm that requires treatment for months or potentially years.

After a truck accident, you must get your life back in order as best you can. The crash may have been a sudden, painful, life-threatening, and life-altering event. Psychological help may be just as needed as treatment for physical injuries.

Why Do Medical Bills From Truck Accidents Cost So Much?

Medical care costs from severe truck accidents can be high for a variety of reasons. The costs vary depending on how serious your injuries are, how much treatment you need, how long you need treatment, and who is treating you.

You also need to factor in the systemic costs that all patients pay (either directly or indirectly), such as:

High cost of drugs and medical equipment: Prescription medication can be expensive. So are the machines used for X-rays, MRIs, and other examinations.
High administrative costs: Medical practices and hospitals don’t just help patients. They have costs like billing, record-keeping, and insurance processing.
Malpractice insurance: All medical professionals (not just doctors and surgeons), hospitals, and medical practices must carry malpractice insurance to protect themselves from negligence claims.
Limited competition in the healthcare market: In many parts of the US, especially in rural areas, there are few hospitals or clinics, which can limit competition and allow them to charge higher prices.
High demand for medical services: People are living longer and, as they age, need more medical attention, which drives up healthcare costs.
High salaries for healthcare providers: Healthcare providers are in high demand by employers, who must meet the increased demand for medical services. This drives up salaries and the cost of improved benefits.
Inflation: Just as you pay more for things you need, so do hospitals and healthcare providers, whether that’s electricity, office supplies, or food.

Healthcare inflation will continue because of the rising need for healthcare, the demand for employees, and increasing medication prices.

Who Pays Medical Bills After a Truck Accident?

In most cases, payment comes from health insurance, auto insurance, or the at-fault party’s liability coverage. Some drivers can use PIP coverage, which pays some of the medical bills regardless of who is at fault. In severe cases, a personal injury lawsuit may be needed to recover the full costs.

Here’s a more detailed explanation of who pays and when:

Health Insurance: If you have health insurance, your policy will typically cover some or all of the costs of your medical treatment.
Vehicle or Liability insurance: If the truck driver or trucking company caused the accident, their insurance would typically cover the cost of your medical treatment.
Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage in your vehicle coverage: PIP typically covers the cost of your medical treatment, regardless of who was at fault for the accident, up to a limit. The more you can afford to pay for PIP, the higher the limit, the greater benefit you will receive.
Workers’ compensation: If you were injured while on the job, your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance would typically cover the cost of your medical treatment
Medicare and Medicaid: If either program covers you, they should cover your costs.

Legal Action to Pay Medical Bills From a Truck Accident

If the accident was caused by the negligence of the driver or trucking company and their insurance company doesn’t agree to settle your claim, you may be able to file a personal injury lawsuit to seek reimbursement for your past medical expenses and those expected in the future.

If someone else paid for your medical care, like your health insurance company, they would want to be paid back through the legal action

Enabling you to pay for past and future healthcare is an important reason to file a personal injury claim after a truck accident.

Speak To a Truck Accident Lawyer Today

Whether you or a family member is injured in Kentucky due to a truck accident, our law firm can and will help you handle legal matters with confidence. Put boots on the ground with help from Satterley & Kelley PLLC.

To schedule a free initial consultation at our Louisville office, call 502-589-5600 (toll-free at 855-385-9532) or complete our contact form today.

Please visit our truck accident page to learn how we can help with truck injury lawsuits.