If an Ambulance Is Called, Who Pays for It?

The party responsible for causing a car crash or other personal injury accident will typically be liable for ambulance costs, as is the case with other personal injury damages. However…

Various factors impact the invoicing or insurance coverage for these medical expenses, such as:

• Liability: The at-fault driver’s insurance typically covers ambulance expenditures and other medical bills. If you were at fault, your personal car or health insurance may cover the costs, or you will have to pay out-of-pocket.
• Insurance Coverage: Some car insurance policies offer Personal Injury Protection (PIP), which covers medical expenses, including ambulance rides, regardless of who is at fault. However, PIP is unavailable in all states, such as California.
• If a Claim Is Filed: The ambulance provider may place a lien on any compensation you receive from a personal injury claim. If you are not awarded a settlement, the ambulance company can sue you, and the court can garnish your wages or seize property to pay the debt.

The personal injury attorneys at Attorney Jeff Car Accident Lawyer can clarify these details to help you understand who pays for the ambulance and pursue damages from the at-fault party. 

For more information on who pays for an ambulance, here’s an overview regarding costs, financial responsibility, and legal options to avoid being left with the bill.

Consenting to an Ambulance Ride That You Did Not Request

If a bystander is present and calls 911 after witnessing a car accident or other type of personal injury accident, the EMTs who arrive on the scene provide first aid and check for serious injuries. A proceeding invoice is typically sent to the injured person only if they accept the ride to the hospital.

While it is strongly recommended to receive immediate medical treatment from a doctor following a personal injury accident, the proposed ride to the hospital can always be rejected.

However, for individuals who are unconscious or otherwise incapacitated, EMTs can transport them to the hospital without their consent, leaving them to pay for the bill.

Therefore, even if you did not request an ambulance presence, you may still be held financially responsible. Some ambulance providers even charge just for being dispatched.

How Much Is an Ambulance Transport in California?

The average bill for a ground ambulance ride in California is an outrageous $1,209–the highest in the nation.

The cost doesn’t include extra charges for emergency medical treatments given during the ambulance ride, such as injecting IV fluid, attaching a cervical collar, or checking blood pressure and oxygen levels, all of which substantially increase the total cost of treatment.

Although recent changes to California’s “No Surprise Act” aim to lower patient costs for ambulance services by requiring direct billing between insurers and ambulance companies, the patient still bears the initial responsibility for the ambulance bill.

What if I Did Not Call for an Ambulance?

In the aftermath of a car crash or any personal injury accident, the patient, even in an unconscious state, is financially responsible for ambulance services. The individual who made the call will not be liable for incurred costs.

Ambulance services are considered necessary emergency medical services, so even if the injured person does not agree to treatment or to be taken to the hospital, medical necessity overrides consent.

Bystanders who request for help are not expected to cover ambulance costs. Instead, their role is to ensure that any injured parties receive prompt medical attention, and they should not be discouraged from doing so due to potential financial burdens.

What if the Car Accident Was Not My Fault?

The at-fault person will be liable for medical bills and other damages, like paying for the ambulance ride, BUT until fault has been legally established, the financial burden falls on the injured victim.

Cooperating with the investigation is essential to ensure that insurance covers the medical costs. At the same time, you do not want to share accident details with the at-fault party’s insurance that could be misrepresented to direct blame on you.

Does Insurance Cover an Ambulance Bill?

Yes, but they may try to evade liability.

Payment for any type of medical care typically falls on the at-fault driver’s insurance company. This is based on the principle that the negligent party bears the financial consequences of their actions, including an ambulance ride.

However, insurance companies often scrutinize accident claims and require evidence that ambulance transportation was medically necessary and that alternative modes of transportation were not feasible.

In some cases, the injured party’s own healthcare provider may cover the ambulance ride cost if the other driver’s insurance is insufficient or unavailable.

However, this is circumstantial and may result in out-of-pocket expenses such as deductibles and copayments to the victim.

When Is an Ambulance Medically Necessary?

In California, the Welfare and Institution Code outlines specific conditions under which ambulance services are considered necessary.

These situations include instances where an ambulance is required to prevent loss of life, to seek immediate assistance for severe pain, or to promptly treat a life-threatening illness or injury.

Medical records, doctor’s statements, and other documentation can be used to establish medical necessity.

Will Health Insurance Cover Ambulance Transport in California?

If you were injured in a car accident or another incident that was not your fault that required ambulance transport, it can be difficult to determine who covers the expenses.

Private health insurance may pay for ambulance services. However, it’s important to understand your policy limitations and exclusions.

Understanding Your Insurance Policy

Your insurance policy may have a deductible that you need to meet before full coverage kicks in. Additionally, copayments or coinsurance requirements may still require you to pay a portion of the ride to the hospital or other services.

Reaching Your Policy Limits

If severe injuries are sustained and medical costs exceed the policy limits, you may have to pay any remaining balances, including the ambulance bill.

Collections and Legal Action

If you cannot pay the ambulance bill, it may be sent to a collections agency. This can result in continuous phone calls and other collection efforts to receive payment. The ambulance provider may even take legal action to recover the debt.

Can Ambulance Costs Be Compensated in a Personal Injury Claim?

Yes. Any medical expenses, including ambulance fees, can be compensated in a successful personal injury claim. However, professional legal assistance may be necessary to recoup the full scope of damages.

Insurance adjusters often use tactics to pressure injured victims into accepting inadequate offers by minimizing the severity of sustained injuries or claiming that the victim was partially at fault for the accident.

Therefore, it is crucial not to accept any early settlement offers from insurance adjusters before consulting a car accident lawyer, who can review all proposed offers and protect clients from signing any agreements that could limit the ability to recover compensation.

3 Ways Personal Injury Lawyers Will Help You Avoid Ambulance Costs

If you’ve been injured in a car accident or another accident resulting in injury and are facing mounting medical bills, including an ambulance bill, a California personal injury attorney can help in the following ways:

1. Seek Maximum Compensation from the Responsible Party

If an accident is caused by someone else’s negligence, an attorney can file a personal injury claim to seek compensation for medical bills, like ambulance costs, and other damages. 

2. Deal with the Insurance Company

If the insurance company disputes the medical necessity of the ambulance transport or refuses to cover medical bills, experienced personal injury attorneys can obtain medical records and consult with medical experts to prove the extent of injuries and necessary medical care.

3. Prepare a Winning Case

This involves gathering and presenting evidence, filing a claim, and representing the injured party in court if necessary. In some cases, attorneys may even call upon police officers, witnesses, or medical professionals to testify and further substantiate the need to use ambulance services.

A personal injury attorney increases the likelihood of a favorable case outcome that gets injured clients compensated for ambulance transport, as well as other damages associated with the accident, such as medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

Need Assistance with Ambulance Expenses? We Can Help.

Attorney Jeff Car Accident Lawyer can assist you if you have questions about who is responsible for ambulance costs, are facing high medical bills, or if your claim has been denied by the at-fault party’s insurance company.

Our personal injury attorneys will manage all the legal and financial aspects of your personal injury accident and negotiate a fair settlement on your behalf, allowing you to focus on your recovery. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.

After an accident, Jeff’s got you.