Today, the cost of medical care and emergency services seems so expensive that many people are afraid to even call 911 after an accident. It is vital to get the help you need, and EMTs and ambulance crews are trained to provide that care and stabilize you on your way to hospital care. It might be important to know how much an ambulance ride costs, but it is more important to understand that you should always call 911 and get emergency medical care after an accident involving injuries, no matter how much it might initially cost.
The cost of an ambulance ride varies greatly from area to area, but it often costs around $1,100. Keep in mind, however, that if you try to get to the hospital on your own or in a friend’s car, your injuries could very well get worse in the meantime – and you might be in no state to drive if you were just involved in an accident. Additionally, EMTs and ambulance crews provide more than just a ride to the hospital, so you should always call them after an accident. And, ultimately, you can often claim compensation for the ambulance ride and other medical care if you file an insurance claim or injury lawsuit.
For help after an accident, call the personal injury attorneys at Howe Law today at (844) 876-4357.
Paying for an Ambulance Ride After an Accident
Generally, ambulance rides cost around $1,100, but potentially a few hundred dollars more or less than that. The cost will heavily depend on the area you are in, how many hospitals there are, and what treatment you need. However, the cost can often be paid for in many ways, and you should not have to pay on your own if someone else caused your injuries.
Generally, health insurance will cover an ambulance ride. It might not pay in full, but this will certainly help you afford an ambulance ride if you need it.
Additionally, if you were hurt because of someone else’s negligence – such as in a car accident or a slip and fall – then any expenses you face because of the accident should be their responsibility. Whether through their insurance, an out-of-pocket settlement, or a lawsuit, the responsible party should be the one to pay for your ambulance ride, your medical care, your lost wages, your pain and suffering, and any other damages you faced because of the accident they caused. In the end, our personal injury attorneys can help you get the compensation you need for an ambulance ride, so you should never hesitate to call an ambulance if you need one.
Reasons to Call an Ambulance
You should call an ambulance any time there has been an accident involving injuries. If the injuries are quite mild, an ambulance might not be necessary, but if you sustained a head injury, you cannot move, or you have visible injuries or bleeding, calling 911 is usually in order. You should also always call 911 after a car accident.
Many injuries are not obvious, but EMTs are trained to recognize the signs and symptoms of these underlying injuries and get you to a hospital if you need further care. They can also bandage you up and provide certain levels of first aid care without ever putting you in the ambulance and taking you to the hospital. These services are indispensable, and you should consider calling 911 for help even if you might not ultimately need a ride to the hospital.
After a serious injury, you should never drive yourself to the hospital. Especially if you were involved in a car accident, you might be legally required to stay at the scene of the accident, so taking off and driving to the hospital might lead to accusations of a hit and run. If you are injured, driving could also be quite dangerous. Especially if you hit your head or you feel woozy, you should not drive, as you might cause a second accident if you try to. If your injuries are severe, you could potentially bleed out or fall unconscious halfway to the hospital.
Getting a friend or loved one to take you to the hospital might be appropriate in some cases. However, you should not rely on someone else to hold pressure on a wound while driving or otherwise take their eyes off the road to stabilize you while driving. Ambulance crews always have at least two people: one to drive and one to treat you en route to the hospital. They can also begin treatment and first aid when they get to you, versus a friend driving you to the hospital will be unable to help you until you arrive at the hospital.
How Calling an Ambulance Can Protect Your Personal Injury Case
If you were injured by someone else’s negligence, then you could be entitled to sue them, potentially covering the full cost of any emergency medical treatment and transportation anyway. Calling an ambulance and getting a ride to the hospital can actually help with this case, alongside helping with your recovery.
When you call 911, it shows your injury was serious. The defense will always try to downplay the harm their defendant caused you, but EMTs who can testify about your condition and records of when you called and what care you received can help show that your injuries truly were severe.
Additionally, victims are required to “mitigate damages” by doing what they can to receive medical care and prevent their condition from getting worse. If you delay medical care because you are afraid of the cost of an ambulance, you might end up losing out on damages if the court finds you allowed your condition to get worse while you delayed treatment.
Call Our Personal Injury Attorneys for Help
If you were injured in an accident, call (844) 876-4357 for help from the personal injury lawyers at Howe Law.
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