Legal Question in Personal Injury in Missouri
Release requested before paying any bills from auto accidemt
My son was involved as a passenger in a rollover auto accident about July 1, 2004, near StLouis,Mo. The driver fell asleep, hit another car in front of him and rolled the vehicle my son was in several times. While the driver was critically injured, my son received apparently only very superficial wounds. The paramedics washed off an abrasion with some water and told him he was OK. No other services were apparently provided. The Highway Patrol drove him to a motel to spend the night (accident happened about 1:00 am). For their service, the paramedics rendered a bill for $100. The bill was forwarded to the drivers insurance company, who demanded a full release for all claims, now and in the future, before paying the paramedics bill. While we know of no additional medical charges tha would be due(we really didn't expect the bill we received, either), or of any additonal problems due to the accident, it appears that a full release at this time is way too premature.
Is it proper for insurance companies to withold payment of medical bills pending full release? Is my son entitled to other compensation for his motel, food, and transportation home after the accident, from the insurance company? How to handle?
1 Answer from Attorneys
Re: Release requested before paying any bills from auto accidemt
There may be other coverage available to pay the medical bills besides liability coverage, so that the bills could be paid without settlement of the liability claim (such as med pay).