Contrary to what the TV lawyers want you to believe, not everyone suffers serious injuries in a car accident. Sometimes you may just want to go to the hospital to get checked out and make sure everything is okay.
But even in those circumstances, you still need to be aware of your rights and responsibilities and how going to the hospital affects your personal injury claim.
The Bills Are Coming (More Than Just One!):
If you go to the hospital following a wreck, you will usually receive bills from several different providers. First, the Hospital charges you for an Emergency Room visit (ie. St. Tammany Parish Hospital).
Second, the actual ER doctor who treated you is sometimes independent from the hospital and you may receive a bill from his or her physician group (ie. St. Tammany ER Physicians).
You may even receive separate bills from the radiologist and any other specialists who see you in the ER, such as orthopedists.
Did you take the ambulance to the ER? If the answer is “yes,” look out for a bill from the ambulance service (ie. Acadian Ambulance).
One of the most common mistakes people make when settling their personal injury claim on their own is not accounting for EVERY medical bill they incurred. This is usually because when they receive the hospital bill, they think it covers everything. Then, when the other bills start coming in after they settled, it is too late and the bills are their responsibility.
Your Health Insurer Wants Their Money Back:
We encourage our clients to use their health insurance for medical expenses, even if they are the result of a car wreck. Doing this greatly reduces the cost of medical expenses and more importantly, the chance of you ending up owing more in medical expenses than there is available liability insurance coverage.
However, when you use your health insurance for medical treatment related to a wreck, your health insurer may have a right to reimbursement out of any settlement proceeds. This is your responsibility. You don’t want to settle your personal injury claim without knowing how much you are responsible for repaying to your health insurer. Failing to properly reimburse your health insurance company can lead to personal liability and being dropped from coverage due to noncompliance. When you have Medicare or Medicaid and are in a wreck, making sure to properly comply with their reporting requirements is extremely important.
Don’t Rush To Settle:
Even if everything checks out fine for you at the ER, don’t be in a rush to settle your personal injury claim with the insurance company. Remember that your personal injury claim is separate from the claim for your car repairs (your property damage claim).
Even if you are feeling okay after leaving the Emergency Room, things can change quickly. Due to adrenalin wearing off, it is not uncommon for soreness and aches and pain to gradually come on in the days following a wreck. Even if you were feeling fine immediately after a wreck, you may wake up the next day with tremendous soreness.
Between making sure to account for all of the medical bills and making sure you don’t have any residual injuries, why we suggest waiting at least several weeks before even considering the settlement of your claims with the insurance company.
Have You Been Injured In A Car Wreck And Went To The Emergency Room And Have Questions About Medical Bills, Health Insurance Or Other Concerns?
If you have been injured in a car wreck and you went to the ER after a wreck and have questions about medical bills, health insurance, or other concerns contact us online or call our Covington office directly at 985.590.6182 to schedule your free consultation today. Flattmann Law serves clients on the Northshore, including Covington, Mandeville, Abita Springs, Bogalusa, Franklinton, Folsom, Madisonville, Goodbee, Hammond, Lacombe, Pearl River, and Slidell.
