How to Pay Your Car Bills After an Accident

Being in a car accident disrupts your life in many ways and can add extra expenses to your budget, whether or not you hold the blame for the crash. Understand the potential costs and keep yourself in good financial standing as you navigate paying car bills after an accident.

Paying Your Car Bills After an Accident

A car accident could leave you injured and unable to work, which could result in a growing pile of bills as you recover. You have medical bills from your injuries and your usual monthly bills, such as rent and utilities, but you also face the cost of repairing and maintaining your car. And then there’s all the time spent handling claims, submitting evidence, and following up with insurance companies.

Fortunately, if another person causes the accident due to negligence, their insurance company should handle the repair costs and medical bills. Plus, you may be eligible for pre-settlement funding through USClaims to help you cover your car accident repair bills while you wait for a resolution in your case.

A serious wreck can leave you with a pile of expenses while you wait for a settlement. Explore some of the more common ones below and find out how to deal with them.

Typical Vehicle Expenses After an Accident

Some post-accident vehicle expenses, such as the repair bill, are obvious. Others you might not think of right away. Knowing what expenses to expect helps you prepare financially.

Repair Bills

The damage from a car accident often results in significant repair bills. Even relatively minor body damage may total an older vehicle with a low value. The legal obligation to pay for the property damage costs rests on the negligent party. That means the other driver’s insurance should pay your car accident repair bills if they cause the accident due to their negligence.

Unfortunately, the other driver or their car insurance company might dispute who’s at fault for the wreck. They could assert that you hold at least part of the responsibility and should pay for your own repairs. Instead of filing a claim with the other person’s insurance company and leaving yours out of it, you might need to get both companies involved. From there, the insurance companies hash out who’s to blame and who should pay for the car repairs or replacement costs by negotiating a car accident settlement.

And if you do end up having to tap into your own insurance, you might be on the hook for your deductible, which can be costly. The average car insurance deductibles cost $500 per incident, but other standard options are $250, $1,000, and $2,000.^[1]

But what if your case goes to court? Car accident settlements often take months, or even years, to resolve. You might not see any money for your property damages during that time, leaving you to cover your own repair bills. You might not have a choice, especially if you need a working vehicle to fulfill daily obligations.

A Rental Car

Your life doesn’t stop just because you had a car accident. You still need transportation to get you to work, school, or other commitments. If you sustained injuries in the accident, you might have medical appointments and treatments to drive to.

A rental vehicle offers a temporary solution for your transportation needs. When someone else causes an accident, their insurance typically covers the cost of a rental vehicle while your car remains in the shop. However, if your case goes to court, you may need to pay for the costs of your rental out of pocket while you wait for a resolution.

You might also need to cover some of your rental expenses based on the vehicle you choose. Insurance companies cover reasonable costs based on your current vehicle. Don’t expect the insurance company to pay for a luxury vehicle when yours is a 10-year-old subcompact car. If you prefer a higher-end rental car, you may have to cover the additional costs.

The Monthly Payment on Your Damaged Vehicle

Monthly car payments on a financed vehicle continue whether or not the car runs. That means you need to continue your loan payments while your vehicle remains damaged. Being in a car accident can strain your finances, especially if you miss work due to your injuries, making that payment difficult to cover.

While you might eventually receive compensation for missed work and other expenses, you often wait for that money. Plan for your ongoing car payments during that time to avoid repossession or late payments on your credit report. You also need to cover other vehicle expenses, like auto insurance premiums.

Payment Strategies to Consider While You Wait for Your Auto Settlement

Paying car bills after an accident might take a little strategy. Before you make any decisions, consider the facts of the case. Things to consider include:

• Is the vehicle totaled, or does it need repairs?
• Do you hold any fault in the accident?
• What was your insurance coverage at the time of the accident?

With these factors in mind, consider payment options to cover your bills. Pre-settlement funding gives you access to the funds you need to pay for day-to-day expenses while you wait out a settlement. Pre-settlement funding companies evaluate your case and offer you car accident pre-settlement funding based on the anticipated value of your potential settlement. When that money comes through, it goes to the lender to cover the loan amount.

Health insurance may help cover many of the medical bills you accrue while you wait for a settlement. You typically pay for a portion of the medical bills as copays, coinsurance, and deductibles. After the settlement, you may be able to recoup those out-of-pocket medical expenses.

Finally, don’t underestimate the power of talking to your creditors. They might offer payment plans or reduce your payments during your financial difficulties. You might also qualify for assistance through government programs or charitable organizations based on financial hardship.

Contact USClaims to Get Help with Your Bills

Many accident victims struggle to pay their car bills while waiting for their cases to settle. If you find yourself in this situation, USClaims is here to help. Our pre-settlement funding helps many injury victims pay for car repairs and upkeep.

Uses for settlement funding also include rent, utilities, groceries, and other necessities to keep you financially afloat during a painful and challenging time.

If your case qualifies, we may purchase a portion of your projected settlement or jury verdict. This purchase allows us to pay you cash now for everything from rear-end to broadside collisions. If you do not receive a settlement or a verdict at trial, don’t worry. If you don’t receive compensation for your property damage, you don’t owe USClaims anything.

Apply now or call us today at 1-877-USCLAIMS to learn more. Dealing with the financial aftermath of a car accident is stressful, but addressing the situation quickly can minimize the monetary and emotional impact.

The availability of pre-settlement funding varies by state. Contact USClaims for more information.

Sources

“Average Car Insurance Deductible: Everything You Need to Know.” Car and Driver, https://www.caranddriver.com/car-insurance/a35824412/average-car-insurance-deductible/. 2021.