Short answer
The at-fault driver is ultimately responsible for your medical bills, but their insurer usually pays as part of a settlement, not as bills arrive. Meanwhile, your own PIP pays medical bills regardless of fault — at least $2,500 unless you rejected it in writing — your health insurance pays as it normally would, and underinsured motorist coverage can step in if the at-fault driver didn’t carry enough.
The usual order of payment
- PIP on your own auto policy pays medical bills and lost income regardless of fault and regardless of other coverage, within 30 days of proof (Insurance Code §§1952.155, 1952.156). It also covers passengers in your car (§1952.151). See how PIP works.
- Health insurance pays under your plan as usual. Your plan may seek repayment from a later settlement — check your plan documents.
- The at-fault driver’s liability insurance pays your medical expenses as part of your injury claim, usually once treatment is finished. The Texas minimum is $30,000 per injured person (Transportation Code §601.072).
- Your underinsured motorist coverage can pay when the at-fault driver’s limits run out (Insurance Code §1952.101). See uninsured and underinsured drivers.
Hospital liens
If you’re admitted to a hospital within 72 hours of the crash, the hospital has a lien on your claim against the person who caused it (Property Code §55.002). That means the hospital can be paid out of your settlement, and it will need to be addressed when the claim resolves.
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Why the amount billed isn’t always the amount recovered
Texas limits recovery of medical expenses to the amount actually paid or incurred by you or on your behalf (Civil Practice and Remedies Code §41.0105). If a $10,000 hospital bill was reduced to $4,000 under your health plan, the $4,000 is generally what counts — one reason insurers ask whether you have health coverage.
What to do with the bills right now
- Open a PIP claim right away and send bills as they arrive.
- Give providers your health insurance information too — don’t assume the auto claim will pay them directly.
- If a bill is coming due, call the provider, explain there’s a pending crash claim, and ask what options they have.
- Keep every bill, explanation of benefits, and payment record — together they document your medical damages.
Frequently asked questions
Who pays my medical bills if the accident wasn’t my fault in Texas?
The at-fault driver’s liability insurer, usually through a settlement once treatment is done. Until then, your PIP pays regardless of fault, and your health insurance pays as usual.
Does my own car insurance pay my medical bills in Texas?
Yes, through PIP — unless a named insured rejected it in writing. PIP pays medical bills and lost income regardless of fault, with a minimum of $2,500 per person (Insurance Code §§1952.152, 1952.153).
Can a hospital take part of my settlement in Texas?
If you were admitted within 72 hours of the crash, the hospital has a lien on your claim against the person who caused it (Property Code §55.002), so it can be paid from the settlement.
Will I recover the full amount my medical providers billed?
Texas limits recovery to the amount actually paid or incurred by you or on your behalf (Civil Practice and Remedies Code §41.0105), which can be less than the amount first billed.
Texas law and sources cited
- Tex. Ins. Code §1952.151 — what PIP covers and who it covers
- Tex. Ins. Code §1952.155 — PIP paid regardless of fault or other coverage
- Tex. Ins. Code §1952.156 — PIP paid within 30 days of proof
- Tex. Transp. Code §601.072 — minimum liability insurance (30/60/25)
- Tex. Ins. Code §1952.101 — uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage
- Tex. Prop. Code §55.002 — hospital lien on an injury claim
- Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code §41.0105 — medical expenses actually paid or incurred
General information, not legal advice. DFW Crash Data is not a law firm, and every situation is different — for advice about your own claim, talk to a licensed Texas attorney. Laws change; the sources above were checked on the date shown at the top of this page.