When you're seriously injured in a Car Wreck Injury Treatment Sanford caused by someone else's fault, your medical bills may exceed the no-fault coverage in your auto insurance policy, which is typically $10,000, in no-fault states. If your medical bills were higher than that, then your personal health insurance might pick up and pay, or if you're covered by Medicare or Medicaid, they might pay. It's also possible you'll have a big bill from a hospital.
EXAMPLE: You get hurt and your medical bills total $25,000. Your no-fault coverage pays $10,000. But you have no health insurance, and the hospital has a bill they want you to pay of $15,000. And they threaten to sue you if you don't pay Pain Management Clinic Sanford FL
The bad news keeps coming: The at-fault driver bought the cheapest insurance he could, and only has $25,000 "minimum limits". You also "went cheap" to save money, and didn't get "underinsured coverage". So the only money available is the $25,000.
And since the hospital says you have to pay back $15,000, and then you'll have to pay a big chunk to your lawyer, you figure you'll be "left with nothing"! There's no point in even messing with this, Right??
WRONG!
You should talk to an experienced injury lawyer before you go jumping to conclusions, (and listening to friends and family who don't know what they're talking about) and here's why:
A good lawyer will not take your case if he thinks he can't get you money in your pocket. Otherwise, what's the point of doing it?
The rest of the EXAMPLE:
An experienced attorney may be able to contact the hospital, and explain the situation and persuade them to agree to accept 1/3 of their claimed balance, equaling $5,000. (Instead of the $15,000 they were going to sue you for!)
Then the at-fault insurance company may pay their $25,000 policy limit. (You do not have to pay back the $10,000 in no-fault payments your insurance company made)
So what's the possible RESULT? Hospital gets $5,000 and never bothers you again
- Attorney Fee of 1/3 equals $8,333
- YOU get $11,667
And remember: You thought you were going to get nothing! And maybe get sued by the hospital for your trouble!
The ANSWER: You have to address the issue of outstanding medical bills in a car wreck injury case, but you may not have to pay back all the claimed bills dollar-for-dollar.
So don't jump to conclusions when you've been injured. Talk to an experienced injury lawyer, and learn your rights.