Seniors today are no longer relegated to sitting in a rocking chair. In fact, the current estimates show that out of the 70 million people who are over 65, around 85 to 90% are expected to have their driver’s license. While seniors are known for using safety features such as seatbelts, they face devastating financial challenges if they experience an accident. Taking a look at how to handle medical expenses can improve your or your loved one’s accident recovery.
Anticipate Longer Personal Injury Recoveries
Living on a fixed income means that a senior might not have funds available to immediately pay for healthcare after an accident. Since seniors often heal more slowly than younger adults, they may face additional surgeries, medical testing and lengthy physical therapy sessions.
Seniors who have prior injuries may also struggle with managing their recovery, especially if they face denials from insurance companies. In some cases, you might need to negotiate with medical providers regarding medical costs. Or, setting up a delayed payment plan could buy you time to wait for an insurance claim to go through.
Plan to Pay for Alternative Transportation
Car accident injuries often involve parts of the body that make it difficult to drive. Being unable to respond quickly to changing conditions on the road might mean that you or your loved one needs to plan for someone else to drive.
Life on a fixed income might require exploring alternative forms of transportation that are designed for seniors. For instance, some communities offer senior shuttles. If yours doesn’t, then costs for transportation may be another factor to include in your car accident claim.
Expect Less Compensation for Lost Wages
After retirement, proving that you’ve lost income from part-time work or self-employment becomes more difficult. In some cases, you might not have any compensation from lost wages at all. If you sell handmade items, pet sit or perform other small jobs, then working with your attorney can help you prove you’ve lost income from the accident.
Explore Insurance Claim Options
Even people with flexible incomes need to rely on health insurance to manage skyrocketing medical costs and property damage claims. As a senior, you might have the advantage of being able to rely on Medicare as a secondary source of coverage for car accident injuries.
If the other party was uninsured, then you might have uninsured motorist coverage from your policy that you can use to cover your care. Personal injury protection is another optional form of coverage that you might have included in your policy. Taking time to carefully read through your insurance documents can help you determine what resources you might have to help you pay for fixing your car and any medical treatments you need.
Lean on a Lawyer for Support
Sadly, you could face more challenges than you can easily handle while you also deal with the physical and emotional toll that an accident creates. Talking to a lawyer can help you understand complicated insurance policies and read through financial documents.
Your car accident lawyer can also help you identify your rights to additional sources of compensation that can aid in your recovery. Leaving the negotiations with the insurance company to your lawyer also reduces your stress while you focus on healing. Most personal injury lawyers work on a contingency basis, so you won’t pay anything unless you win your case.
Although car accidents for seniors can be difficult, there is a silver lining. Senior adults have many resources that they can turn to for support. From using their health insurance to cover medical costs to working with an attorney, it is possible to plan a healthy recovery after an auto accident that doesn’t ruin your finances.