I was hurt in a Pennsylvania car accident. Who will pay my medical bills?

A: In Pennsylvania, all car owners must buy car insurance. All car insurance companies must  provide medical benefits coverage of at least $5,000 as part of every car insurance policy. (You can buy more coverage, and insurance companies are required to write policies with medical coverage up to $100,000.) This coverage does not depend on fault, or on who caused the accident. The medical benefits coverage on your car insurance policy pays the medical bills that you incur as a result of a car or truck accident  – up to the limit of coverage that you purchased.

If your medical bills are greater than the total coverage you purchased with your auto insurance policy, then your bills will be paid by your health insurance company.

If you don’t have health insurance, then the person who caused the accident is responsible for paying your medical bills. But you won’t see that money, if ever, until your case is resolved by settlement or verdict — and then only if the careless driver has enough insurance or other assets to pay.