What Can I Do After Being Hit By a Car While Walking?

If a pedestrian is hit by a car or a bike, that pedestrian has a few different options.  But if the pedestrian does not have their own private auto insurance, that leaves them with only two options.  In a typical accident, insurance coverage for medical bills, lost wages, future health care cost, prescriptions, and any other damages breaks down like this:

Injured pedestrian’s own auto insurance – Injured victim of the car accident can use the personal injury protection benefits, or PIP, to pay for their medical bills.  They should not use their health insurance until PIP has been exhausted.  In fact, if the health insurance company learns that the pedestrian was injured in a car or bike accident and has auto insurance, they may not pay for medical care (because they know PIP will).  If the injured pedestrian doesn’t have their own insurance, they go to the next option.

Injured pedestrian’s own health insurance – If a pedestrian doesn’t have auto insurance, then they must use their own health insurance to pay the medical costs.  If you have health insurance, you need to know what your coverage provides.

The driver of the car or bicycle auto insurance – If the person who hit you was on a bike, this may be more complicated than if you were hit by a car.  But, the rules remain the same.  Your last option if you have no auto insurance or car insurance is to use the PIP from the other person’s auto insurance.

Of course, no accident is the same, and if you’re a pedestrian who has been injured in an accident, you should contact an Albuquerque injury lawyers at Ron Bell.  Our pedestrian injury attorneys can provide free advice and direction, guiding you through the car accident litigation process in New Mexico.  Ron Bell provides a free consultation to those involved in a car accident, truck accident, pedestrian accident, hit and run, drunk driver collision or any other type of motor vehicle accident where a person or family has been injured.