Who Pays The Medical Bills In a Multi-Car Injury Accident in Tulsa

In a multi-car injury accident in Oklahoma, the responsibility for paying medical bills depends on fault, insurance coverage, and sometimes litigation. Like all car and truck accidents, determining who is at fault is always a key part of the claim. This can be further complicated in a multi-car injury accident as the different insurance companies involved may try to shift liability to the other people involved or try to divide up each person’s share of liability.

Immediate Medical Bills (Before Fault is Determined)

• Your own health insurance: Usually, your health insurance (private, employer, Medicare, SoonerCare) will initially pay your medical bills.
• Medical Payments Coverage (MedPay): If you purchased MedPay on your auto policy, it can cover medical expenses for you and your passengers regardless of fault (often up to $1,000–$10,000).
• Out-of-pocket: If no insurance applies, you may be personally billed by providers, though they may agree to wait if you have a pending injury claim.

Who Is Ultimately Liable

Oklahoma follows a fault-based system (also called “tort liability”):

• The at-fault driver(s) (and their insurance companies) are legally responsible for paying for medical bills, lost wages, and other damages.
• In a multi-car crash, fault may be shared among drivers. Oklahoma applies modified comparative negligence (23 O.S. § 13):
  • If you are less than 50% at fault, you can recover damages from others, reduced by your percentage of fault.
  • If you are 50% or more at fault, you cannot recover.

Insurance Company Payments

• Liability insurance: The at-fault driver’s liability insurance pays for the injured party’s medical bills, but usually only after settlement or judgment.
• UM/UIM coverage (Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist): If the at-fault driver(s) have no insurance or not enough coverage, your UM/UIM may step in.
• Subrogation: If your health insurance paid your bills, they may seek reimbursement from the at-fault driver’s insurance once your case resolves.

Practical Timeline

• Short term: You or your health insurance/MedPay pays the bills to avoid collections. Sometimes your doctors or physical therapists will delay collecting the money until after your case is settled but not always.
• Long term: The at-fault driver’s insurer reimburses you in a settlement or court award. If your medical bills were paid by your insurance company, they might seek subrogation from the negligent driver’s insurance. In a case where the treating physician provided treatment before being paid, they might place a lien on your case.
• Multi-car wrinkle: Each driver’s percentage of fault will be evaluated. For example, if one driver is 70% at fault and another 30%, their insurers split liability accordingly.

What You Can Do

• Keep all medical records and bills.
• Notify all insurance carriers promptly. Be cautious of making recorded statements requested by the adjuster and always get your attorney involved first.
• Do not rely on the at-fault driver’s insurer to pay bills as they come in—they typically pay only after fault is decided.
• Work with an attorney to determine fault allocation, negotiate with insurers, and prevent medical collections.

Oklahoma Personal Injury Lawyers In Your Corner

In Oklahoma, a multi-car injury accident may complicate determining which driver has to pay your medical bills. Immediately after the accident, your health insurance or MedPay usually covers medical bills upfront. Ultimately, the at-fault driver(s) and their insurers are responsible, based on comparative negligence rules. For a free consultation with a Tulsa, Oklahoma personal injury attorney at Kania Law Office, call 918.743.2233. If you like, you can also follow this link to ask a free online legal question.