Being hurt in a serious accident can turn your world upside down. If you’re working with a California lawyer to get to a personal injury settlement, you may be curious about how this impacts your current plans to get medical care. As an injured victim, you need to continue with your medical care to ensure you get proper treatment. Following up with all medical appointments also shows that you’ve done everything you can to heal, and this may help support your arguments when going into a personal injury settlement or a trial.
But it can be nerve-wracking to keep going to the doctor, attending physical therapy, or getting surgery or assistive devices if you’re not yet at the point of personal injury settlement. As the bills start piling in, the stress can add up as you wonder what to do with these medical bills while you wait. Do not skip out on attending important appointments or referrals related to your case, as this could jeopardize your ability to heal. Further, you don’t want anyone else claiming that your injuries didn’t improve because you failed to get proper care and attend follow-ups.
Medical Bills 101: What Happens With a Pending Personal Injury Settlement?
When you visit a provider for care related to your accident, your treatment will determine if you need tests, physical therapy, medications, referrals to other doctors, devices, or surgery. These costs can really add up, and if you’ve never been in this position before with a serious injury, it can be difficult to know what parts of it you’re responsible for at the time. For someone already coping with the stress of an accident, you might feel overwhelmed. A lawyer can really help you determine what to do next and the best way to handle medical bills before a personal injury settlement.
Start a folder of all your important documents so everything is organized for you and for your lawyer. It can be difficult to keep everything in one place if you don’t start early, and this organization will be essential for helping you and your attorney determine if any settlement offers received are fair. Your lawyer will need all details on your current medical bills and expected future medical bills to make a strong case.
Who Pays Bills While My Case is Pending Personal Injury Settlement?
If you have an active health insurance policy, provide your insurance details to any health care providers you see related to your personal injury claim. You need to submit all billing received related to your case to your health insurance company for payment if those bills arrive during a pending case. If you do not have health insurance, or there may be parts of your medical bills that are not paid by your health insurance coverage, those bills may need to be paid out of the settlement in the case.
You should be sure to keep an organized file with any of these bills or provide them to your personal injury lawyer to handle them. If you currently have medical payments coverage on your motorcycle or auto policy, MedPay will usually pay up front for some of your medical costs, meaning that you do not have to wait until the close of your case. However, if you do not have MedPay coverage or health insurance, you may have no immediate way to pay medical bills incurred.
What if Medical Offices Won’t Work With Me to Delay Payment?
You may work with your lawyer to have them contact these medical providers or any collection agencies to ask that the collection efforts be paused until the resolution of your case. Be aware that talking with your attorney about this up front can help you determine their policy on this process. Medical providers can use something known as a lien on your case to wait to be paid out until the judgment proceeds are released or a final settlement. If your providers are not willing to wait, you might be able to work out an immediate reduction for payment or a payment plan, and then you can reimburse yourself from the case proceeds if and when that happens.
Need more assistance with your personal injury claim? Curious about how the settlement process works for personal injury? You’re not alone. Our lawyers have many years of experience helping others navigate the personal injury process.
