Medical Bills and Personal Injury: Managing Costs While Pursuing Compensation

Accidents are unforeseen events that no one anticipates. Unfortunately, when confronted with a personal injury resulting from an accident, the physical and emotional toll often coincides with a financial burden, specifically in the form of substantial healthcare expenses. Managing medical bills can be daunting, and the road to full recovery may span several years. The aftermath of an accident, coupled with the task of figuring out how to handle medical expenses, creates a traumatic experience. However, by enlisting the support of experienced personal injury attorneys, you can explore ways to navigate these financial challenges while actively pursuing rightful compensation. This blog will discuss practical ways to cover medical costs during a personal injury claim and ways to control costs while negotiating for proper compensation.

Managing Costs After an Accident

Receiving medical care immediately after an accident is essential, as proper attention from doctors reduces the severity of the situation. It’s also extremely important to get medical care soon after an accident if you plan to make a personal injury claim. The following are the different types of medical expenses that one could potentially incur after an accident: 

• Hospitalization Costs: Expenses from being admitted for follow-up assessment.
• Consultation and Copay Fees: When you have a doctor’s appointment or an injection during your follow-up appointments.
• Medication Bills: Costs for drugs and other necessary medication during your recovery.
• Rehabilitation: In cases where physical and rehabilitative therapy is required to fully recover.
• Assistive Care and Equipment: These are any needed items to aid in your recovery ranging from requiring a wheelchair for a spinal cord injury to crutches, neck brace, and other assistive items.
• Home Services: House modifications may be needed for permanent injuries or there may be a need for in-home care following your accident.

While waiting for your personal injury settlement, the costs of these medical expenses and bills are not put on hold. It is important to use your health insurance after a personal injury or car accident to reduce your out of pocket expenses. While it may seem unfair to have to use your own health insurance, it’s important to understand that insurance companies do not pay your medical bills directly and by using your insurance, you are benefiting from the discounted rate that the health insurance companies receive.

What happens if you don’t have health insurance?

It’s understandable that an individual would avoid treatment after being injured in an accident if they don’t have insurance to help alleviate the medical costs. It is important to get treatment, especially if you plan to make a personal injury claim. If your auto insurance policy has Med Pay, which is optional coverage to help cover medical expenses regardless of fault, you or your attorney can file a claim to get reimbursed for your medical expenses related to a car accident. If you don’t have health insurance or Med Pay, you still have options to cover your medical expenses. Some providers will postpone billing until a personal injury lawsuit is resolved. Additionally, you can apply for Medicaid and if you qualify, they may cover your past bills and any future medical expenses. Personal injury attorneys typically can recommend medical providers that will work with their firm on billing, which is an added benefit to hiring a personal injury attorney if you don’t have health insurance.

Personal Injury Settlement

When you experience any injury, hurt, or physical damage due to another person’s negligence, the law states that you can pursue a claim for injury compensation and damages. The sole purpose of this claim is to obtain compensation for any losses or damage resulting from that accident. Personal injury settlement amounts are dependent on how severe the injury is. It is an agreement for the plaintiff (the person affected by the accident) to take an amount of financial compensation in exchange for not pursuing the case in court. When a settlement can’t be reached, the case goes to court, but according to the U.S. Department of Justice, personal injury cases go to trial.

Types of Personal Injury Damages

Compensatory Damages: In addition to medical expenses, an injured person can also seek compensation for other losses such as wages lost at work and pain, suffering, and inconvenience related to the accident. It is designed to restore the victim as if the incident never occurred. Compensatory damages compensate the victim for monetary losses, known as special damages, and damages for non-monetary losses, known as general damages

• Special damages include lost wages, repair or replacement of property, medical expenses, and funeral expenses.
• General damages include trauma, loss of comfort, or change in ability to work caused by the accident.

Punitive Damages: Deter people from committing similar offenses or inflicting specific injuries on people. It doesn’t compensate the victim but punishes the offender.

Permanent Injury Settlement Amounts

Permanent injury settlement amounts vary depending on different factors, such as the type of injury, circumstances of the victim when the accident occurred, and the amount of insurance coverage available. As long as there is sufficient insurance coverage, a permanent physical injury that affects the victim for the rest of their life will be valued higher than an injury where the victim makes a full recovery.

Get the Compensation You Deserve

For comprehensive coverage of medical bills and expenses, gathering pertinent documentation—medical records, receipts, and proof of payment—is essential. Our skilled attorneys utilize these records to build your personal injury case, aiming to secure the optimal compensation for the damages you’ve incurred. While you focus on recovery, entrust your personal injury settlement negotiations and legal proceedings with the expertise of a reputable personal injury attorney, ensuring your rights are fully protected. Schedule a free consultation with Huffman & Huffman today if you or a loved one has been injured and initiate the path towards securing the rightful compensation you deserve. You don’t pay a penny until our personal injury attorney secures compensation on your behalf, so you have nothing to lose!