Accident-related medical bills can add up quickly—and keep piling up long after the accident and you conclude your personal injury case. Unfortunately, once you settle your case with an at-fault party and their insurer, you cannot request additional damages later.
However, a personal injury lawyer in Corpus Christi can negotiate with medical providers to write off debt or set up a payment plan to resolve medical bills that exceed your settlement. Most importantly, they can help you avoid an insufficient settlement that leaves you with medical debt. You can get a free injury claim review from a local law firm to learn more about what to do if a settlement doesn’t cover your medical bills.
Negotiate with the Provider When a Settlement Does not Cover Medical Bills
You do not have to accept overwhelming medical bills without fighting back, especially when someone else’s negligence caused the accident. Your attorney can help you cover medical bills that exceed your settlement by negotiating with the healthcare provider or facility where you received care. They will:
- Request a discount for making a one-time payment in full
- Identify errors and oversights that increase the amount you owe
- Ask for a detailed bill to address each line item on your bill
- Ask the billing institution about benefit programs or hardship relief
You do not have to negotiate with the billing provider on your own. A Corpus Christi car insurance claims lawyer can handle this task and help align your medical bills with your settlement. They can also uncover any billing errors that unduly increase your medical expenses.
We have offices in Houston, Corpus Christi, and Victoria; and will travel to any corner of Texas if we are capable of preventing an injustice.
Explore the Possibility of Setting Up a Payment Plan for Your Medical Bills
Treatment after a car accident can include emergency room and other hospital stays, rehab, therapy, medical devices, and more. You can request a payment plan from the treatment facilities and service providers by:
- Explaining your ability to pay
- Reviewing your bill(s) for accuracy
- Negotiating a smaller bill
- Proving financial hardship
- Negotiating interest rates
Establishing an agreeable payment plan can reduce the immediate burden of accident bills. Breaking a massive medical bill into manageable chunks that better fit your ability to pay can have multiple advantages. It can ensure the facility receives payment, your credit doesn’t take a hit, and you can focus on getting better without undue stress.
You Can Appeal a Personal Injury Claim that was Unreasonably Low or Denied
After an accident, the at-fault party should compensate for all your incident-related medical care costs. You do not have to accept a settlement offer that does not cover your medical bills and other financial expenses and losses.
A Texas car accident lawyer can file an appeal against an unreasonably low settlement offer that could constitute an act of bad faith. They can also fight an outright rejection of your injury claim by filing an appeal or taking the at-fault party to court. Finally, they’ll determine your future medical care needs and ensure your settlement accounts for them.
Representing the injured in all areas of Texas that extends back over 40 years
An Insurance Claims Attorney Can Negotiate a Settlement to Cover Medical Bills
Medical bills after an accident start accumulating at the crash scene. They can keep adding up based on the severity of your injuries. The compensation you request for your medical bills is part of your negotiated settlement. To maximize your settlement, a personal injury lawyer will:
- Collect billing information: Gather your medical bills to date, avoiding a speedy settlement that does not fully account for them.
- Assess your bills in detail: Examine every line item for errors, omissions, typos, and other costly mistakes.
- Estimate your future medical needs: Obtain a written prognosis to understand the costs of care you will require after settling your claim.
- Negotiate lower medical bills: Work with the medical professionals and facilities where your treatment and bills originated.
There are many other benefits to hiring a lawyer to represent you. For example, they will handle all communication with the insurance company, including every phase of the settlement negotiation process.
Your Attorney Can Pursue Additional Compensation Beyond Medical Bills
Medical bills are only one of the economic damages you can recover with a personal injury insurance claim or lawsuit. Economic damages are typically supported with bills and receipts.
In addition to medical bills, economic damages can include:
- Past and future lost income
- Loss of future earning capacity
- Property damage or total loss
- Diminished property value
Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 41.001 also allows you to recover noneconomic damages. This form of compensatory damages can include:
- Temporary and permanent impairment
- Significant scarring and disfigurement
- Physical pain and suffering
- Mental anguish and emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
Surviving families can also request wrongful death damages for the loss of a loved one in a negligence-based accident. A lawyer will represent you and your family on a contingency fee basis. You pay nothing upfront or out of pocket and only compensate the law firm if they recover damages for you.
A Lawyer Can Comply with Texas’ Mandatory Statute of Limitations
Personal injury claims include any accident caused by the negligent actions of another person or entity, such as:
- Car accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Truck accidents
- Workplace incidents
- Wrongful death
The personal injury and wrongful death statutes of limitations are generally two years, according to Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 16.003. Failure to meet the filing deadline could put your lawsuit at risk of dismissal. Your lawyer can help you avoid this potentially costly outcome.
You need a skilled advocate to protect your legal rights and present your claim in such a way as to maximize your recovery.
Get Help Negotiating Personal Injury Medical Bills
The personal injury lawyers at Carrigan & Anderson, PLLC, can compel the at-fault party to cover your medical bills for injuries you sustained in a negligence-based accident. We will take on the insurance company, negotiate the best financial outcome, and work with healthcare providers to lower your accident-related bills.
Learn more about what to do if a settlement doesn’t cover your medical bills. Contact our team today for a free case evaluation.
At Carrigan & Anderson, PLLC we can talk to you about your options and rights.
