Legal Question in Insurance Law in Arizona

auto accident/personal injury coverage

I was in a single car accident in december of last year. A few days later my neck siezed up to the point i couldn't move. I went to a chiropracter and was told I had severe whiplash. I had to go 3 times a week for a month and down to once a week for the following month. Once my neck was feeling better I told the doc I no longer needed to come in. My last visit was in the beginning of June. I have and had full coverage insurance through progressive. I asked the chiro on the first few visits if I owed anything and was told I was covered. Now 4 months later I am recieving a bill in the amount of $4615 due to my insurance stating that I am not covered. I need to know what my options are. I never would have continued the doctor visits if I thought or knew that I wasn't going to be covered. Please help me. I don't know what to do and have no money for an attorney. Thank you so much for you time and assistance.


Asked on 10/10/07, 10:27 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
James Jenkins Jenkins Law Center PLC

Re: auto accident/personal injury coverage

I presume the accident was your fault, so there is no way to claim against another driver.

Medical pay coverage pays medical bills for the occupants of your vehicle regardless of fault. Did you have passengers?

If you did not have medical pay, and if the accident was your fault, there is no coverage on your own auto policy. Did you contact your insurance company at the outset to determine if you had medical pay coverage?

People tell me all the time that they have "full coverage" insurance. They usually do not know what this means. There is no definition under the law or insurance policies for such a thing as "full coverage." People who state that they have "full coverage" often only have liability, comprehensive and collision. In other words, they insure the car for damage, and themselves if they are at fault and a claim is made against them for the damage.

Medical pay coverage pays medical bills. Uninsured motorist coverage insures you if you are injured by an uninsured party. Underinsured motorist coverage insures you if you are hit by a driver who has insurance, but not enough to cover your injury and bills. Towing pays for towing. Rental car coverage pays for a rental car if yours is not driveable. If you have all these coverages, I would say you have "full coverage." In other words, you have all the available coverages. Many people do not.

The insurance industry, and many agents, are poor about educating the public, and most consumers do not take the effort to ask about all the available coverages and how they work when they buy insurance.

Sorry for your problem. I am not sure that all this is the fault of the doctor, unless there was a specific agreement to collect only from Progressive and not from you.

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Answered on 10/11/07, 2:43 pm


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