At Fault in an Ohio Car Accident? You Can Still Get Injury Care

When you cause a car accident, your first thoughts probably aren’t about your own injuries.

You may be worried about the other driver, damage to both vehicles, a traffic citation, your insurance rates, or what the accident is going to cost.

Then the soreness starts.

Your neck feels stiff. Your lower back begins to hurt. Maybe your shoulder is painful from the seat belt or you’re experiencing headaches that weren’t there before the collision.

That’s when another question may come to mind:

Can I get medical treatment if the car accident was my fault?

The answer is yes.

Being responsible for a car accident does not prevent you from seeking medical treatment for injuries you sustained in the collision. Depending on your automobile insurance policy, you may also have Medical Payments Coverage, commonly called MedPay, that could help pay eligible accident-related medical expenses regardless of who caused the crash.

At Eastside Medical Group, we provide car accident injury care for patients throughout the Greater Cleveland and Northeast Ohio area. If you’ve been injured in a collision, understanding your treatment and insurance options can help you make informed decisions about what to do next.

Can the At-Fault Driver Be Injured in a Car Accident?

Absolutely.

The physical forces of a collision don’t distinguish between the driver who caused the crash and the person who didn’t.

During an accident, your body may suddenly move forward, backward, or sideways. Your seat belt may restrain your torso while your head and neck continue moving. Your knees could strike the dashboard, or you might brace yourself against the steering wheel.

Any occupant of a vehicle can potentially be injured during these sudden movements.

Common car accident injuries and symptoms can include:

• Neck pain
• Whiplash symptoms
• Upper and lower back pain
• Shoulder pain
• Knee pain
• Headaches
• Muscle strains and sprains
• Joint stiffness
• Soft tissue injuries
• Numbness or tingling
• Reduced range of motion
• Concussion symptoms

Some symptoms are immediately noticeable. Others can develop or become more apparent after the accident.

Being at fault doesn’t mean being injury-free.

Who Pays for an At-Fault Driver’s Medical Treatment in Ohio?

The answer depends on the driver’s individual insurance coverage and circumstances.

Liability insurance generally addresses bodily injuries or property damage that an insured driver causes to other people. It generally isn’t designed to pay for the at-fault driver’s own medical expenses.

However, your auto policy may contain additional coverage for your own accident-related medical bills.

One coverage worth checking for is MedPay.

What Is MedPay and How Does It Work After an Ohio Car Accident?

Medical Payments Coverage is an optional type of automobile insurance coverage that may help pay eligible medical expenses resulting from a car accident.

One of the most important differences between MedPay and liability coverage is fault.

MedPay is generally designed to provide applicable medical benefits regardless of who caused the collision, subject to the terms, exclusions, and limits of the individual policy.

That means MedPay can potentially be valuable when you are the driver who caused the accident.

For example, suppose you rear-end another vehicle while driving in Northeast Ohio.

Your liability insurance may address eligible claims involving the people you injured. But what happens if you also develop significant neck and back pain from the collision?

If your policy includes MedPay, you may have benefits available for eligible medical expenses related to your own injuries.

Always contact your insurance carrier to confirm your specific coverage before assuming that a particular service or expense will be covered.

How Do I Find Out If My Auto Insurance Includes MedPay?

Start with your automobile insurance declarations page.

Look for wording such as:

• Medical Payments Coverage
• Medical Expense Coverage
• MedPay

If you aren’t sure what you’re looking at, call your insurance company or agent.

Ask directly:

“Does my auto policy include Medical Payments Coverage for my injuries, and what is my coverage limit?”

You can also ask how medical expenses should be submitted, whether there are deadlines or notification requirements, and what documentation your insurer requires.

Can I Use MedPay If I Caused the Accident?

Potentially.

MedPay is generally structured differently from liability insurance because applicable benefits aren’t necessarily dependent upon another driver being responsible for your injuries.

If you purchased MedPay and your accident and medical expenses fall within the terms of the policy, coverage may be available even when you caused the collision.

The exact answer depends on your individual policy, so your insurer should verify your benefits.

Can I Get Treatment If I Don’t Have a Personal Injury Case?

Yes.

Car accident injury treatment and a personal injury claim are separate matters.

You don’t need to be suing another driver simply to have your injuries medically evaluated.

This is especially important for at-fault drivers because they may assume that car accident injury care is only available to people who were hit by somebody else.

It’s not.

If you were injured in a collision, you can seek medical care. How that care is paid for will depend on the insurance benefits and payment options available in your individual situation.

What If I Caused a Single-Vehicle Accident?

At-fault injury care isn’t limited to crashes involving two vehicles.

A driver can be injured after:

• Sliding off an icy or wet Northeast Ohio road
• Hitting a guardrail
• Striking a stationary object
• Losing control of a vehicle
• Hitting a deer
• Being involved in another single-vehicle collision

There’s no other driver to blame in these situations, but the physical impact can still cause injuries.

If your own automobile policy includes applicable medical coverage, such as MedPay, you may have benefits available for eligible medical expenses.

Why Do Drivers Who Cause Accidents Sometimes Ignore Their Own Pain?

Guilt can be powerful.

If you caused an accident, you may feel like you don’t have the right to focus on yourself.

You may think:

“The accident was my fault. I just have to deal with it.”

But taking responsibility for an accident and taking care of an injury aren’t mutually exclusive.

You can acknowledge that you made a driving mistake while also recognizing that your neck hurts, your back isn’t moving normally, or you’re experiencing symptoms that weren’t present before the collision.

There is also another problem: not every car accident injury is immediately obvious.

Pain, stiffness, headaches, numbness, tingling, and other symptoms may become more noticeable after the initial stress of the accident has passed.

Don’t use fault as a reason to automatically dismiss what your body is telling you.

What Symptoms Should an At-Fault Driver Watch for After a Crash?

Pay attention to new, persistent, or worsening symptoms following an accident, including:

• Neck stiffness or pain
• Lower or upper back pain
• Shoulder pain
• Knee or hip pain
• Persistent headaches
• Muscle soreness
• Reduced mobility
• Numbness or tingling
• Weakness
• Dizziness
• Difficulty concentrating

Some symptoms may require immediate emergency attention. Seek appropriate emergency medical care for severe or rapidly worsening symptoms, loss of consciousness, significant weakness, breathing difficulties, severe headache, confusion, or other signs of a potentially serious injury.

Frequently Asked Questions About At-Fault Driver Injury Care

Can I receive medical treatment after causing a car accident in Ohio?

Yes. Fault does not prevent you from seeking medical evaluation or treatment for your own injuries.

Does liability insurance cover my injuries if I’m at fault?

Liability insurance generally addresses eligible injuries and damages you cause to other people. Your own medical expenses may fall under different coverage, such as MedPay, if you purchased it.

Does MedPay require the other driver to be at fault?

Generally, MedPay is intended to provide applicable medical benefits regardless of fault, subject to your policy’s terms, exclusions, and coverage limits.

Is MedPay automatically included with Ohio car insurance?

Not necessarily. Check your declarations page or speak directly with your insurance carrier or agent to determine whether you have Medical Payments Coverage.

Can I get car accident injury care without hiring a lawyer?

You do not need to have a personal injury lawsuit simply to seek medical treatment. If you have questions about your legal rights or obligations following an accident, speak with a qualified attorney.

What if I thought I was fine after the accident but started hurting later?

Some symptoms may not be obvious immediately following a collision. Consider seeking medical evaluation for new, persistent, or worsening symptoms after an accident.

Car Accident Injury Care in Greater Cleveland and Northeast Ohio

If you caused a car accident and you’re now experiencing pain, don’t assume that being at fault means you have to ignore your injuries.

At Eastside Medical Group, we provide injury evaluations and care for people dealing with pain and other symptoms following automobile accidents throughout the Greater Cleveland and Northeast Ohio area.

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

If you were at fault, check your auto insurance declarations page and ask your insurer whether you have Medical Payments Coverage that may apply to eligible medical expenses.

Most importantly, remember this:

You don’t have to be the innocent driver to be an injured driver.

If something doesn’t feel right after a crash, don’t let embarrassment, guilt, or assumptions about insurance prevent you from finding out what’s wrong.

Contact Eastside Medical Group to learn more about car accident injury evaluations and care in Northeast Ohio.