- May 30, 2019
When you get into any sort of accident, you’ll probably suffer some pretty serious injuries. The most important thing you can do is go to the hospital. Even if you don’t think you’re hurt, you still need to get checked out.
A lot of people decide not to seek medical treatment after an accident. There are all sorts of reasons for this. Perhaps they think they’ll be fine if they just go home. Or, they don’t have insurance and they’re afraid they’ll get hit with a ton of medical bills.
When you go to the hospital, they will treat you. This is true whether you have insurance or not. While you’re waiting to file your claim against the other driver’s insurance, you still need to get treated. There are a few ways this can happen.
- If you have personal health insurance, it’ll cover your medical treatment
- Your medical care may be covered under your own uninsured or underinsured motorist’s policy
- If you don’t have insurance, Medicaid may cover your care
- For those over a certain age, they can get their bills covered through Medicare
The important this is to get treatment. You can worry about sorting out the bills later. Your Louisiana injury lawyers will need your treatment records to prove your case.
What if You Need Surgery?
If you’ve ever been in the hospital, you already know how expensive it is. Even if you have insurance, you’ll receive papers in the mail showing how much your bill was. The receipt will say, “This is not a bill.” However, it’s just a reminder of how much your insurance company paid for your hospital stay.
A trip to the emergency room costs several thousand dollars. If you end up in the hospital for a few days, it’ll run you about $35,000 minimum. If you require surgery and physical therapy, the bills will be astronomical.
The good news is, someone will cover these bills. If not, the providers will have to wait until you settle your lawsuit to get paid. They will be aware that your injuries were the result of a car accident. They’ll understand that you have a claim pending against the other driver.
How are Your Medical Bills Paid Back?
Just because you have insurance, it doesn’t mean they’ll cover your medical care without expecting to be paid back. Once a third-party provider realizes your injuries were caused by a car accident, they’ll expect to be reimbursed.
The way insurance companies ensure they’ll be paid back is by filing a lien against your lawsuit. This goes for Medicare and Medicaid as well. These providers carry what’s called a “super lien” against any settlement proceeds you receive.
When you do settle your case, your injury lawyer in Louisiana will have to arrange reimbursement to the insurance company. They’ll also make sure all outstanding medical bills are paid. These bills have to be paid before you receive your share of the settlement proceeds.
What if the Bills Exceed Your Settlement?
When you first file your car accident lawsuit, your lawyer will demand that you be compensated for your injuries. Your Louisiana car accident lawyer will demand that you receive the following:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
When your lawyer negotiates your settlement, they’ll have to make sure you receive enough to cover your expenses. However, sometimes, your settlement will be less than your total medical bills. This means your Louisiana injury lawyer will have to try to get your insurance company’s lien reduced.
The courts understand that people won’t bother suing if they’re going to walk away with nothing. Once your attorney takes their fee, the medical bills have to be paid. If there’s no money left for the plaintiff, why bother? Rather than have this happen, there are methods in place for reducing the insurance liens.
Not only does the plaintiff expect to receive some money, but your lawyer needs to be paid as well. If it weren’t for your attorney’s hard work, you wouldn’t be settling your case to begin with. Your attorney’s percentage will come off the total settlement, regardless of how much your medical bills were.
Contact a Louisiana Injury Lawyer Today
If you’ve been injured in any sort of accident, you’re going to need a Louisiana injury lawyer. You need to focus on recovering from your injuries. Let your attorney focus on the legal side of things.
Call today and schedule your initial consultation. It’s absolutely free and you pay nothing until you settle your case.