Car accidents can turn your world upside down—physically, emotionally, and financially. One of the most immediate and stressful concerns after a crash is this: who pays for the medical bills?
If you're in California, the answer isn’t always simple. From emergency room charges and ambulance rides to follow-up care, chiropractic treatment, physical therapy, and surgeries, medical costs can pile up fast. And if you're not at fault, it’s natural to expect the other party to pay. But reality often looks very different.
At AK Injury Law Firm, we know the system—and we know how to outthink it. Led by Dr. Azadeh Keshavarz, a former chiropractor turned personal injury attorney, our firm doesn’t just fight for compensation—we build strategic cases that win. We’ve seen firsthand how insurance companies delay, deny, and devalue legitimate medical claims, especially when it comes to vulnerable accident victims.
This explains how medical bills are handled in California car accidents—and how a smart legal strategy can make the difference between financial relief and financial ruin.
Understanding California’s At-Fault System
California follows a fault-based system when it comes to car accidents. This means that the person who caused the accident is legally responsible for paying the damages, including your medical expenses.
But here’s the catch:
You won’t get immediate help from the at-fault driver’s insurance.
Why not?
Even if you’re 100% not at fault, their insurance company won’t pay your medical bills right away. They’ll wait until your treatment is complete and then try to negotiate a lump-sum settlement—often pressuring you to accept less than what your injuries are truly worth.
That leaves injured victims stuck with bills, appointments, and growing debt while they wait for resolution.
Who Pays in the Meantime?
Until you receive a settlement (which could take months or even years), you are legally responsible for your medical bills. But there are several options that can help cover those expenses in the meantime:
1. Your Own Health Insurance
If you have health insurance, you can (and should) use it for medical treatment after a car accident. Your health insurer will likely seek reimbursement later from the settlement through a process called subrogation.
Why it matters:
Even though the accident wasn’t your fault, health insurance provides a safety net—getting you the care you need without delay.
At AK Injury Law Firm, we handle subrogation negotiations to ensure your health insurer doesn’t take more than they should from your settlement.
2. Med Pay (Medical Payments Coverage)
If you carry Med Pay on your auto insurance policy, it can cover your medical bills regardless of who was at fault.
- No co-pays
- No deductibles
- Immediate coverage
Most policies offer Med Pay coverage in increments ranging from $1,000 to $25,000.
Why it’s strategic:
Med Pay doesn’t require proof of fault. It’s fast, and we can help you file a claim quickly while we build your case against the at-fault party.
3. Liens and Letters of Protection (LOP)
If you don’t have health insurance or Med Pay, many doctors, chiropractors, and physical therapists may agree to treat you on a lien basis—meaning they’ll get paid later from your settlement.
We help arrange treatment through trusted providers who are familiar with personal injury cases. These providers understand the legal process and won’t send you to collections while your case is being resolved.
How we help:
We issue a Letter of Protection to your medical providers, guaranteeing that their bills will be paid from your future settlement. This gives you access to high-quality care—even if you can’t pay upfront.
What If the At-Fault Driver Is Uninsured or Underinsured?
California law requires all drivers to carry minimum liability insurance, but many don’t—or don’t carry enough to cover the damages they cause.
That’s where Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage (UM/UIM) comes in. This optional coverage on your own policy can step in to pay your medical bills if the at-fault driver has no insurance or not enough to cover your costs.
Dr. Keshavarz’s advice:
Even if you haven’t used your UM/UIM coverage before, now is the time to explore it. We can analyze your policy and make sure every available dollar is pursued.
What About Future Medical Costs?
If your injuries require long-term treatment—surgeries, rehab, or ongoing care—it’s critical to account for those costs in your settlement.
At AK Injury Law Firm, we work with medical experts, life care planners, and economists to estimate your future costs and include them in your claim. Insurance companies won’t offer this automatically—you need to fight for it, smartly.
The Insurance Company’s Tactics (And How We Outthink Them)
Let’s be clear: Insurance companies have one mission—to save themselves money. They don’t care about your bills, your pain, or your future. Here are a few of their common tactics:
- Delaying the claim so you’ll accept a low offer out of desperation
- Questioning your treatment or saying you were “over-treated”
- Blaming pre-existing conditions to deny payment
- Arguing you were partially at fault to reduce your payout
- Surveilling your social media to “disprove” your injuries
At AK Injury Law Firm, we anticipate these tactics. We use medical records, expert reports, and ironclad documentation to shut down these strategies before they gain traction. We don’t just argue—we outthink.
What If You Can’t Work and Have No Income?
If your injuries prevent you from working, your financial strain can grow quickly. In some cases, you may qualify for:
- Temporary disability payments
- State disability insurance (SDI)
- Short-term disability benefits through your employer
We guide you through these options and include lost wages and lost earning capacity in your injury claim to make sure nothing is left on the table.
Time Limits: Don’t Wait
In California, the statute of limitations for most personal injury cases is two years from the date of the accident. That might seem like plenty of time—but medical bills don’t wait.
Delays in seeking legal help can weaken your case. Witness memories fade, evidence disappears, and medical records can get harder to compile.
The sooner you call us, the more powerfully we can position your claim.
What Makes AK Injury Law Firm Different?
At AK Injury Law, we’re not just here to file claims—we’re here to build smart cases. Our founder, Dr. Azadeh Keshavarz, saw too many accident victims struggle under the weight of medical bills while insurance companies stalled. She left a successful chiropractic career to fight for those patients as a lawyer—armed with medical insight and a sharp legal mind.
We take a strategic and intelligent approach to every case. We don’t fall for the insurer’s games. We think ahead, uncover their tactics, and use every tool available to maximize your compensation.
Our slogan isn’t just words. It’s how we practice:
Outthink. Outfight. Outwin.
How We Can Help
If you’ve been injured in a car accident in California and are worried about your medical bills, you’re not alone—but you don’t have to go through it alone either.
At AK Injury Law Firm, we help you:
- Get the medical care you need now, even if you can’t pay out of pocket
- Explore Med Pay, health insurance, and lien-based treatment options
- Analyze your auto insurance policy for hidden coverage opportunities
- Negotiate with providers and insurance companies to reduce your stress
- Build a powerful, strategic case to fight for the full compensation you deserve
We offer free consultations, and you pay nothing upfront. We only get paid when we win your case.
Call AK Injury Law Firm today and let us show you how smart legal strategy can turn your case around—so you can focus on healing, not bills.
