The last thing you want to experience when travelling is an injury. Canadians who get hurt in the United States may face added difficulties when navigating a healthcare system that differs from what they are used to at home.
There are some factors that Canadians should consider when receiving medical treatment in the US, particularly with regards to payment, insurance coverage, and whether other cross-border claims may need to be filed.
At Border Solutions Law Group, our practice covers a wide range of cross-border personal injury claims including those that resulted in you getting medical treatment across the border. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation and speak to one of our lawyers about your situation.
Common Types of Cross-Border Injuries
These are some of the most common types of cross-border injuries:
- Cuts, sprains, tears, or strains
- Bone fractures
- Soft tissue injuries
- Neck and back injuries
- Whiplash
- Serious brain injuries
- Chronic pain injuries
- And more
The most common cause of cross-border injuries are car accidents and other motor vehicle accidents. Injuries may also occur in the event of a slip, trip, and fall accident. In cases where you may not be at fault, you may be eligible for reimbursem*nt that could cover medical treatment costs and possibly more.
Your First Steps as a Canadian Injured in the US
Whether you slip on an icy sidewalk or break a bone in a car accident, your very first step as a Canadian who has been injured in the US is to seek medical treatment. Your health should be your first priority, so ensure that you see a doctor, go to a hospital, or see a specialist as soon as possible.
As you receive medical treatment, it may be useful to record any and all interactions including the names of doctors you saw, the medications they administered, and more.
As a Canadian visiting the US, your treatment will not be covered the way it is in Canada, so you may be required to pay upfront for services or provide proof of insurance. Be sure to communicate with healthcare professionals about payment options and keep a copy of all medical records and receipts for your future insurance claims.
Insurance Claims for Cross-Border Injuries
When you are a Canadian who has been injured in the US, you have a few insurance options that could cover medical treatment costs. If you have purchased travel insurance, it will likely cover your US hospital stay and other medical costs, depending on the coverage level.
Some Canadians may opt to purchase additional private health insurance that could cover emergency medical treatment and repatriation to Canada. Other costs may be covered by pre-purchased auto insurance.
You will have to alert your insurance provider and open a claim to either pay for medical costs upfront or to later reimburse yourself. A cross-border personal injury lawyer may be able to help you build a strong claim and ensure your payout is accurate.
When to File a Cross-Border Tort Claim
If you suspect that your injury was not caused by your own doing, then you may want to consider filing an additional claim in the country where your injury occurred. For example, if a Canadian gets in a car accident in the US and the other driver is potentially at fault to some degree, the Canadian could file a motor vehicle accident tort claim to receive compensation for damages from the at-fault driver’s insurance company.
Depending on your injury, you may have to file a long-term disability claim, brain injury claim, spinal cord claim, or specific claims. This means you may be filing two claims at once to cover medical treatment costs – one with your insurer, and one against the potentially at-fault party in the country where you were injured.
At Border Solutions, our cross-border personal injury lawyers are dual-licensed and have decades of experience in handling cross-border accident claims for both Canadians and Americans injured in the Province of British Columbia or Washington State.
Contact Our Cross Border Personal Injury Lawyers Today
If you are a Canadian who has been injured in the US, or an American who has been injured in Canada – contact our personal injury lawyers today for a free consultation. Cross-border injury claims are a complex area of law and we have experience in handling these types of claims. The best part is, you don’t pay anything unless we successfully recover money for you on your behalf.
Disclaimer: For specific legal advice on your cross-border personal injury matter, please consult with a personal injury lawyer. The content in this article is not intended to act as legal advice and is instead intended to act as a general overview of a legal topic.
