Your concern over how you will pay your medical bills after you’ve been hurt in a slip and fall accident should not prevent you from getting the medical care you need. Delaying medical treatments can make your injuries worse and, in the case of head injuries, can have serious consequences. A Los Angeles slip and fall accident lawyer at Salamati Law can help collect the full amount of damages you are entitled to recover from the negligent party, including money you need to pay your medical bills.
We can also manage insurance claims and payment demands from medical service providers while your case is pending. Contact us today for a free consultation. We can evaluate your case and advise you of your legal options.
Who is Responsible for Medical Bills After a Slip and Fall Accident in California?
In California, the negligent party responsible for the conditions that gave rise to your slip and fall accident is also responsible for your medical costs and expenses. However, you will need to file a lawsuit to recover the full amount owed to you. While that lawsuit is pending, you will likely receive bills from hospitals and doctor’s offices.
If those bills are not paid, you will also receive threats that your accounts will be put into collection. If your injuries prevent you from working and earning your regular salary or wages, you will face further complications.
In every case, the best strategy is to retain an experienced attorney who can pursue the negligent parties to recover the damages you deserve. They can also negotiate with your medical care providers to forestall collection efforts for unpaid medical bills.
Will My Personal Health Insurance Pay My Medical Bills?
If you have private health insurance or qualify for Medi-Cal or Medicare coverage, your health insurer will pay your medical bills. However, you will still be responsible for all co-pays and deductibles. Further, if your medical costs exceed the limits of your insurance coverage, you will be fully responsible for the excess. You can recover reimbursement for your co-pays, deductibles, and any excess payments you need to make by filing a lawsuit against the party whose negligence caused your slip and fall injuries.
Your private health insurance company will also seek reimbursement for medical bills they paid from the negligent party and their insurance carrier. Medical service providers and insurers often impose liens on any amounts you might recover in a slip and fall accident lawsuit.
Your attorney will negotiate with insurers to resolve these issues and verify that you receive a full and fair settlement to reimburse you for your out-of-pocket medical costs and expenses. Your attorney will also ensure you recover additional damages, including lost wages and compensation for pain and suffering.
What Happens if I Do Not Have Health Insurance?
Almost two-thirds of all bankruptcy filings in the United States are caused by medical debt. If you do not have health insurance coverage, you will be liable for the total amount of medical care you received for your slip and fall injuries.
Liability insurers and the negligent property owners they cover are aware of the stress injured parties face due to their medical bills. They use that stress to negotiate quick settlements that might reimburse you for some of your medical expenses while leaving you responsible for ongoing medical treatment.
If you accept payment from a negligent party’s insurance company, it will likely be accompanied by a liability release that prevents you from seeking further compensation. A Los Angeles slip and fall accident lawyer will protect your rights in this situation and verify that an insurer is reimbursing the full value of your case, including all current and prospective future medical expenses.
Will I Have to Pay Back the Insurance Companies for My Medical Treatments?
Several months can elapse before your slip and fall accident lawsuit is resolved. While your case is pending, the hospitals and physicians who treated your injuries can file medical liens in California against any settlement funds you recover in a personal injury lawsuit. Your lawyer will negotiate and manage payments directly with medical centers and doctors to provide fair and accurate reimbursements for all your treatment.
You will recover the balance of the settlement funds and have no further liability. That balance can include a substantial amount to cover your lost wages, your transportation costs to and from medical appointments, the medical equipment you need to accommodate your injuries, and the value of the pain and suffering you experienced as a result of those injuries.
Contact Our Team of Los Angeles Slip and Fall Lawyers
The slip and fall attorneys at Salamati Law in Los Angeles will provide a free consultation and a thorough review of your case to determine what reimbursements you can recover for your medical bills. If you retain our services and accept your case, we will fight for the largest available damages award you are entitled to receive.
We will also negotiate with your doctors and hospitals to manage the payment of your medical bills from insurers and the settlement funds that you recover. Since we work on a contingency-fee basis, you will pay no upfront costs for our services, and we will not be paid unless and until we recover damages in your lawsuit. Schedule your free case evaluation today.
