If you are ever hurt in an accident, you will probably need medical treatment right away. Whether you are admitted to the emergency room immediately or it takes a day or so to notice something is wrong and head to the physician, you will be examined, diagnosed, treated, and billed long before you receive any compensation for your injuries.
While medical care is essential to recovering and avoiding additional problems, treatment after an accident can lead to hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical expenses before you have any help paying them. Prior to the resolution of your personal injury claim, the burden of paying these expenses rests of your shoulders. What can you do? Your best option is to utilize your own insurance policies and work with an experienced Ohio personal injury attorney to move forward with your personal injury claim.
To learn more about your options, call Kisling, Nestico & Redick at 1-800-HURT-NOW.
When you are a hurt in an accident and need medical care, do not hesitate to pull out your insurance card. Your health insurer will be interested in whether your injuries and therefore the medical costs were someone else’s fault. However, it is not the immediate concern when you go to the ER or your doctor. Your priority should always be to receive necessary and proper care after an accident. You have every right to utilize your health insurance to do this, even when your injuries were caused by another person’s carelessness, recklessness, or intentional wrongdoing.
If it is determined that your injuries and medical expenses were due to someone else’s negligence, then your insurer will take steps to be reimbursed for its expenditures. It will do this through the process of subrogation and possibly through seeking a portion of your personal injury compensation. Subrogation is the right for the insurer to hold a third party responsible for its financial losses caused by that party’s actions. While you will be made aware of the subrogation process and you may need to cooperate with your insurer, this legal process will not be your responsibility.
It is not the best option, but you will have to pay out of pocket for many medical expenses after an accident, including for your co-pays, over-the-counter medications and supplies, travel expenses, and more. There is no way around having to spend your own savings on medical care following an accident, even when it was someone else’s fault.
However, you should carefully keep track of all of your personal expenses after an accident. Keep your receipts and document all of the related costs as best you can. You have the right to seek compensation for your medical costs during a personal injury claim, including these related out-of-pocket expenses. By keeping records of what you have paid, you are better able to accurately calculate the compensation you need.
A medical lien is a contractual agreement through which you are entitled to continue receiving medical care and your medical provider is entitled to payment upon the resolution of your personal injury claim. While you may sign an agreement to a lien, like through a holding agreement, this is also something that can happen without your cooperation. A doctor or hospital can file a medical lien against you in the appropriate county recorder’s office to stake its claim for payment.
While a medical lien can appear serious and scary, it is a common practice for providers who need to be paid through a personal injury claim’s compensation. You can work with an attorney in regard to a holding agreement or medical lien. An experienced lawyer may also be able to negotiate the resolution and release of a lien with payment of less than what was due.
There are times when paying medical expenses becomes a necessity and there is no longer any time to wait for a personal injury settlement or award. If you cannot take care of these bills, you are at risk for being sent to collections and having your credit score tarnished because of someone else’s negligence. If you have worked with an experienced attorney and run out of options to put the payment on hold, then you may consider a lawsuit settlement loan. This loan provides immediate cash based on what a lender believes you may recover through your claim. While there are advantages to obtaining a loan, they can also cost a great deal in fees and interest rates. You should work with an experienced attorney to ensure you have exhausted all of your options before going this route.
The time between your medical bills coming due and the resolution of your personal injury case can be the most stressful weeks or months of your life. You are facing a significant financial strain because of someone else’s negligence, and it can be difficult to deal with the unfairness of the situation. However, there are ways to pay your bills or put them on hold while you move forward with a personal injury insurance claim or lawsuit.
Speak with the experienced Ohio personal injury attorneys of Kisling, Nestico & Redick to learn more about letters of protection, medical liens, and loans. We will do whatever we can to lessen the burden you feel and to mitigate any damage to your financial situation and credit.
Call us today at 1-800-HURT-NOW to schedule a free, initial consultation.