Can You Get Medical Treatment If You Caused the Car Accident?

If you caused a car accident in Ohio, you may be worried about the other driver, damage to the vehicles, insurance claims, and what happens next. But there is another important question you shouldn’t overlook:

What if you were injured, too?

Many drivers mistakenly believe that if they were at fault for a car accident, they cannot get medical treatment for their own injuries or that there is no way their care could be covered.

The reality is much simpler: being at fault for a car accident does not prevent you from seeking medical care for your injuries.

Depending on your individual auto insurance policy, health insurance, and other circumstances, you may also have coverage available to help with accident-related medical expenses.

If you were injured in a car accident in Northeast Ohio, don’t let guilt, embarrassment, or assumptions about insurance keep you from getting evaluated.

Can an At-Fault Driver Get Medical Treatment After an Ohio Car Accident?

Yes.

Fault determines responsibility for an accident. It does not determine whether you are physically injured or whether you should receive appropriate medical care.

An at-fault driver can experience many of the same car accident injuries as anyone else involved in the collision, including:

• Whiplash
• Neck pain
• Back pain
• Shoulder injuries
• Knee injuries
• Muscle strains and sprains
• Soft tissue injuries
• Headaches
• Concussion symptoms
• Numbness or tingling

Some injuries are immediately obvious. Others may not become noticeable until hours or days after the crash.

Whether you caused the collision or not, new or worsening symptoms after a car accident deserve attention.

Who Pays for Medical Treatment If You Caused the Accident?

This is where your individual insurance coverage becomes important.

Liability coverage generally exists to pay for injuries or property damage you cause to other people. It generally does not pay your own medical expenses after an accident you caused. (progressive.com)

However, you may have other coverage available.

One important coverage to check for is Medical Payments Coverage, commonly called MedPay.

What Is MedPay After a Car Accident?

MedPay is an auto insurance coverage designed to help pay certain medical expenses for covered people following a motor vehicle accident.

Unlike bodily injury liability coverage, MedPay generally applies regardless of who caused the accident. Progressive explains that MedPay can help cover medical expenses for you or your passengers even when you are at fault. (progressive.com)

That distinction can be extremely important for an injured at-fault driver.

For example, imagine that you accidentally rear-end another vehicle at a traffic light. Your liability coverage may apply to injuries sustained by people in the other vehicle, subject to the terms and limits of your policy.

But what happens if the impact also leaves you with neck pain, back pain, or another injury?

If your auto policy includes applicable MedPay coverage, it may help with your own covered accident-related medical expenses, up to your policy limits. (statefarm.com)

Coverage varies by insurer and policy, so always verify your specific benefits directly with your insurance company.

How Do I Know If I Have MedPay?

Don’t assume you have it, and don’t assume you don’t.

Look at the declarations page of your automobile insurance policy or contact your insurance company or agent. Ask specifically whether your policy includes Medical Payments Coverage or MedPay, what your coverage limit is, and how a claim for accident-related medical expenses should be handled.

Your insurer can explain what coverage applies to your specific accident.

What If I Have Health Insurance?

Health insurance may also play a role in paying medical expenses after a car accident, depending on your policy and circumstances.

MedPay may sometimes help with accident-related expenses such as health insurance deductibles and copays, depending on the applicable policies and coverage. (progressive.com)

Because every insurance situation is different, it is important to verify benefits instead of assuming that an expense will or will not be covered.

What If I Don’t Have a Personal Injury Claim?

You do not need to be pursuing a personal injury claim against another driver simply to have an injury evaluated.

This is an important distinction.

Car accident injury care is not only for people who were hit by someone else.

Maybe you misjudged the distance between vehicles. Maybe you slid on a wet Northeast Ohio road. Maybe you rear-ended another vehicle. Maybe you lost control and were involved in a single-car accident.

You can still be hurt.

At fault does not mean uninjured.

Your health should not become an afterthought simply because you believe you caused the crash.

Why Do At-Fault Drivers Sometimes Ignore Their Injuries?

After causing an accident, your attention may immediately turn to everything else.

Is everyone okay?

How badly are the cars damaged?

Will I get a ticket?

What will happen to my insurance?

How am I going to pay for this?

Those are understandable concerns, but they can distract you from what is happening physically.

Adrenaline and stress following a collision may also make pain less noticeable initially. You might feel relatively normal at the scene and wake up the next morning with significant neck stiffness, back pain, headaches, soreness, or limited movement.

Don’t dismiss those symptoms simply because you were the driver who caused the accident.

When Should You Get Checked After a Car Accident?

Consider getting evaluated if you develop new or persistent symptoms following a collision, including:

• Neck or back pain
• Persistent headaches
• Shoulder or knee pain
• Muscle stiffness or soreness
• Numbness or tingling
• Reduced range of motion
• Dizziness
• Difficulty concentrating
• Pain that becomes worse over time

Certain symptoms, particularly those that could indicate a serious head, neck, spinal, or internal injury, may require immediate emergency medical attention.

Car Accident Injury Care in Northeast Ohio

At Ohio Therapy Centers, we evaluate and treat people experiencing injuries after motor vehicle accidents throughout Northeast Ohio.

Depending on your condition and individual needs, accident injury care may include diagnostic evaluation, chiropractic care, physical rehab, and other appropriate treatment options.

And remember, you don’t necessarily have to be the person who was hit to need help after a collision.

Frequently Asked Questions About At-Fault Driver Injury Care

Can I see a doctor if I caused a car accident?

Yes. Being responsible for an accident does not prevent you from seeking medical evaluation or treatment for your own injuries.

Will car insurance pay my medical bills if I caused the accident?

It depends on your policy. Standard liability coverage generally covers injuries you cause to others rather than your own injuries. If your policy includes MedPay, however, that coverage may help pay eligible medical expenses regardless of fault. (statefarm.com)

Can I use MedPay if the car accident was my fault?

MedPay is generally designed to cover eligible medical expenses regardless of who caused the collision, subject to the terms and limits of the policy. (progressive.com)

Does being at fault mean I can’t receive car accident injury care?

No. Fault and medical need are two different issues. If you are injured, you can seek appropriate medical care.

Should I get checked if I caused the accident but only have minor pain?

Even seemingly minor symptoms can be worth discussing with a healthcare provider, particularly if pain persists, worsens, or new symptoms appear after the accident.

Injured in an Accident You Caused? Don’t Ignore Your Health.

A car accident can be stressful enough without assuming you aren’t allowed to take care of yourself because you were at fault.

You don’t have to be the victim of a car accident to be injured in one.

If you’re experiencing neck pain, back pain, headaches, stiffness, or other symptoms after a Northeast Ohio car accident, Ohio Therapy Centers can help evaluate your injuries and determine an appropriate course of care.

If you’re unsure how your medical expenses may be covered, review your auto insurance policy and ask your insurer specifically about Medical Payments Coverage.

📞 Injured in a car accident? Call Ohio Therapy Centers at 1-833-253-2020 to schedule an injury evaluation.