NJ drivers and passengers who are injured in car, truck or bus accidents in Southern Jersey, such as Cherry Hill, Marlton and Camden are often confused as to whose car insurance company pays for their medical expenses. In fact, the first question an individual injured in a car accident in Cherry Hill often has is, “who pays for my medical bills?”
NJ Drivers Injured in Cherry Hill, Marlton & Camden Car Accidents
If a NJ driver is injured in a car accident caused by another negligent driver, the injured driver’s own car insurance company will pay for his/her injuries. This may seem counterintuitive; however, it is New Jersey’s car accident law. New Jersey is a no fault state. This means that regardless of who caused the car or truck accident, the injured driver makes a medical benefits claim, also known as a PIP claim, with his/her own car insurance company. Therefore, when injured drivers seek medical treatment, they should submit their car insurance information to their medical providers.
NJ Passengers Injured in Cherry Hill, Marlton & Camden Car Accidents
Passengers injured in car accidents will also make PIP claims with their car insurance companies, if they own a vehicle. They do not make PIP claims with the drivers’ car insurance companies.
What happens if the passengers do not own a vehicle? In that situation, they have to look to the car insurance policies of any relatives they live with who own a car.
If a passenger was riding in her friend’s car, got injured in a car accident and does not own a car, she would need to file a PIP claim with the car insurance company of a relative that she lives with, such as her father or brother. Injured passengers in this situation often wonder, “What does my father’s car insurance have to do with this accident? I was in my friend’s car. Why should my father’s car insurance company have to get involved?”
These are legitimate and logical questions. However, as odd as it may seem, if injured passengers do not own cars, they look to their relatives’ car insurance policies to file PIP claims, so long as they live with the relatives. The relative can be a parent, son, daughter, sister, brother, etc.
Who Pays Medical Expenses in Other NJ Car Accident Situations
NJ drivers may also be injured in car accidents during the course and scope of their employment. In this situation, they would not file PIP claims with their own car insurance companies. Instead, workers’ compensation would cover the medical expenses that result from the car accident.
For example, if a UPS truck driver was in an auto accident with another vehicle and was seriously injured, rather than file a PIP claim with his own car insurance, he would file a worker’s compensation claim. In New Jersey, if workers are injured while they are at work, their medical expenses are covered by their employers’ workers’ compensation insurance company. This includes car and truck accidents.
Determining which insurance company pays for injured drivers and passengers’ medical bills after a NJ car, truck or bus accident can be very complex. Therefore, it is imperative that injured NJ drivers/passengers speak to an experienced car, truck and bus accident lawyer.
Related New Jersey Car Accident and Injury Legal Articles
- Injured in a NJ Car Accident? – The Basics of Medical Benefit (PIP) Claims
- How Long Do You Have to Sue After a New Jersey Car, Bus or Truck Accident?
- NJ Car Accident Injury Lawyer Discusses Pain and Suffering Damages in a NJ Car Accident Lawsuit
HELP AFTER A NJ CAR ACCIDENT IN CHERRY HILL, MARLTON OR CAMDEN. FREE CONSULTATIONS. 800.281.8695
Philip Ciprietti has been helping injured victims for over 35 years and has helped many car, bus and truck accident victims in NJ. If you were injured in a car, truck or bus accident in Cherry Hill, Marlton or Camden, feel free to contact Phil T. Ciprietti, Esquire for a free initial consultation. 800.281.8695
*Disclaimer: Every case is unique and you should not take any action or make decisions in your case without speaking to a qualified car and truck accident lawyer in New Jersey. This website page does not provide legal advice or create an attorney-client relationship. Use of the contact form on this website or emailing Mr. Ciprietti does not create any attorney-client relationship. In addition, confidential information should not be sent through the contact form.