Hurt in a bike accident in Charleston or elsewhere in South Carolina? You may be wondering whether your health insurance will cover your injuries. The answer is case-specific, but it is generally “yes,” with whatever deductible needs to be paid. However, you may also have a personal injury claim to seek compensation for the full value of your medical costs as well as any other damages. Contact a Charleston bicycle accident attorney with questions about health insurance and personal injury claims in South Carolina.
Will Health Insurance Cover Bicycle Accident Injuries?
If you are injured in a bicycle accident in South Carolina, your health insurance will usually cover medical treatment. Emergency care, hospital services, surgery, imaging, and follow-up treatment are typically covered. Of course, they are subject to your policy’s deductible, copays, and network rules. Health insurance coverage applies regardless of who caused the crash. Coverage does not mean the accident is “paid for” in a legal sense. Health insurance addresses treatment access, not fault or full financial accountability.
You Can and Should Still Bring a Bike Accident Injury Claim
In Charleston and across South Carolina, bicycle accident claims are fault-based. If a motorist caused the crash, you may pursue a personal injury claim to recover the full value of your medical expenses, not just what insurance paid. This includes deductibles, copays, and amounts written off by insurers. The key point to know is that health insurance often pays first, so treatment is not delayed. However, it does not eliminate the legal responsibility of a negligent driver or another at-fault party.
Most health insurance policies include subrogation or reimbursement provisions. The insurer may seek repayment from any settlement or verdict you recover from the at-fault driver, but only for the costs it actually paid out. Your settlement/verdict needs to be structured properly to maximize the amount of compensation that ends up in your pocket after an accident.
Know Deadline (Statute of Limitations): In South Carolina, bicycle accident injury claims are subject to a three-year statute of limitations. Under S.C. Code Ann. § 15-3-530, an injured victim generally has three years from the date of the crash to file a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault party.
Bicycle Accident Victims Deserve Full and Fair Financial Compensation
Were you injured in a bicycle accident in Charleston? You need compensation for the full scope of your damages. That goes beyond any medical bills. It is imperative that you secure the maximum settlement or verdict. Our Charleston bicycle accident lawyers can help. Along with other damages, injured cyclists can help you seek compensation for:
- Bicycle repairs;
- Emergency room care;
- Hospital bills;
- Medical expenses;
- Physical therapy;
- Loss of wages;
- Diminished earnings;
- Pain and suffering;
- Long-term disability; and
- Wrongful death.
Consult With Our Charleston Bike Accident Lawyer Today
At Query Sautter & Uricchio, LLC, our Charleston bicycle accident attorney is a knowledgeable, experienced advocate for justice. Have questions about health insurance and bike injuries? Please do not hesitate to contact us today for a free, no obligation initial consultation. From our Charleston office, we handle bike accident claims throughout the region.