Who Covers Medical Bills After a Miami Crash?

In a Miami car crash, medical bills are usually covered first through Florida’s Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance, and then through the at-fault driver’s insurance, depending on the severity of the injuries and whether a claim extends beyond PIP limits. 

Medical costs can quickly add up after a crash, so understanding who pays what is essential for anyone trying to get their life back on track. With the help of our Miami auto accident attorney,  The Morgan Law Group is always ready to help injured people who need clarity about their rights and options after a collision in Miami.

Whose Insurance Covers Medical Bills After a Crash?

Every driver must carry Personal Injury Protection (PIP), and this coverage is the first layer of payment for medical bills, regardless of who caused the crash.

PIP pays up to 80% of reasonable and necessary medical expenses, capped at $10,000 if the injuries qualify as an emergency medical condition. Without an emergency medical condition determination, PIP may pay only up to $2,500.

PIP generally covers:

• Emergency room visits
• Hospital stays and surgery
• Follow-up appointments
• Diagnostic testing 
• Medically necessary transportation, such as ambulance services

However, PIP does not cover everything. Florida law limits PIP to medical treatment deemed reasonable, necessary, and directly related to the crash. 

The following may be excluded or only partially covered:

• Elective procedures
• Long-term or experimental treatments
• Out-of-network providers at higher rates
• Future medical care beyond reasonable projections

Additionally, $10,000 in PIP benefits rarely covers the true cost of moderate or severe injuries.

For example:

• A single ER visit in Miami can cost $3,000 – $6,000.
• An ambulance ride may cost $800 – $1,500.
• Surgery for fractures can exceed $25,000 – $50,000.
• Physical therapy over several months can reach $10,000+.

Once PIP is exhausted, injured persons may look to the at-fault driver’s bodily injury (BI) liability coverage, if available, and then to their own Uninsured Motorist Coverage.

If the injured person’s medical bills go beyond PIP, especially in cases involving permanent injuries, significant scarring, or substantial loss of bodily function, the at-fault driver’s BI insurance can be pursued for:

• Remaining medical costs
• Future medical expenses
• Lost wages

This step moves the injury claim outside the PIP claims process and into a liability claim.

Now, if the at-fault driver has inadequate insurance or none at all, the financial burden can shift back to the injured person, unless additional coverage is available, which is discussed below.

What if the Liable Driver in a Crash Isn’t Insured? 

When a negligent driver has no insurance or too little to cover the harm they caused, injured victims often feel they’ve hit a dead end, but several options still exist.

Option 1: Your Own Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage

This is one of the strongest forms of protection available to Florida drivers. UM/UIM coverage steps in when the negligent driver cannot pay. 

Because UM/UIM coverage directly protects you when others fail to follow the law, car crash attorneys encourage drivers to add it to their policies. If an injured person has this coverage, they can make a claim directly with their insurer.

Option 2: Health Insurance

If both PIP and BI coverage are unavailable or insufficient, your health insurance may cover the remaining medical expenses. However, health insurers may later assert subrogation rights, meaning they can seek reimbursement from any future settlement obtained from the at-fault party.

Option 3: Personal Claims Against the At-Fault Driver

A personal injury lawsuit may be filed directly against the negligent party, but recovery is realistically possible only if the driver has personal assets that can be collected. 

This is why UM/UIM coverage is often a critical safety net in Miami, especially when car crashes involve severe injuries and high medical bills.

What if Both Parties Are at Fault in Miami?

Under Florida’s modified comparative fault rule, even if an injured person is partly at fault, they can still recover damages as long as they are not more than 50% responsible for the crash. Hence, their compensation is reduced by their percentage of fault. 

If your injuries are significant enough that they exceed PIP limits, the amount you can recover from a bodily injury claim will be directly tied to your share of responsibility. This makes car accident evidence crucially important to win a claim.

Documentation to Support Claims for Medical Bills 

Thorough documentation is one of the most reliable ways to ensure that medical expenses are fully supported, especially when pursuing compensation from an at-fault driver or your own UM/UIM coverage.

The following records are commonly used:

• Emergency Medical Records: These reflect immediate injuries, triage notes, scans, and emergency treatment.
• Diagnostic Imaging Reports: MRIs, CT scans, ultrasounds, and X-rays show objective injuries, often needed to surpass the no-fault injury threshold.
• Treatment Plans and Follow-Up Notes: Documentation from orthopedic specialists, neurologists, physical therapists, and chiropractors helps show the progression of injuries and ongoing medical needs.
• Surgery Records: These records often drive the highest medical bills and document the seriousness of the injury.
• Pharmacy and Medical Supply Receipts: These include prescriptions, braces, crutches, or at-home medical supplies.
• Future Cost Projections: For people with ongoing limitations, long-term cost projections are crucial for claiming future care expenses.

When a claim is properly documented, the injured person is in a much stronger position to recover the full value of their medical bills, whether through PIP, BI coverage, UM/UIM benefits, or a personal injury lawsuit.

Let’s Help You Get Paid for Medical Bills After a Crash in Miami

If you need guidance identifying who should cover your medical bills after a car accident or want help making sure each layer of insurance coverage is fully explored, our experienced car accident attorneys in Miami can help position your claim for the best possible recovery.

Call us today at (305) 614-5235 or contact us using our online form for a free consultation about your injury claim to cover medical bills after a crash at our office in Miami.