Take these steps following an accident to help minimize the risk of being saddled with outrageous medical bills.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident, bus accident, pedestrian accident, or other type of accident caused by another party’s errors, you may face significant medical costs that may not be covered by your insurance. These costs can become quite burdensome if you do not secure compensation for your injuries. Here are some important steps to take following an accident that will help you get the funds you need to cover your medical bills.
1. Always Get Medical Care After an Accident. Often, people fall into the trap of assuming they do not need to visit a doctor following a minor accident. Unfortunately, some types of injuries like whiplash or back pain may not be immediately apparent to the victim following an accident. If you wait too long between the accident and the discovery of your injury, you can end up making your claim much more complicated. It is best to make sure all parties seek prompt medical attention so that any injuries can be properly documented as early as possible.
2. Do Not Accept an Insurance Settlement. Accepting an insurance settlement or other offer from any individual or entity involved in the accident could compromise your ability to seek compensation later. Even if you think the offer will be adequate to your needs, remember that you may not be able to predict your future costs, including future medical treatments, complications from those treatments, and lost wages or lost earning power related to the injury.
3. Document the Scene of the Accident. Regardless of whether or not it is immediately apparent to you who is at fault for the accident, you want to document the scene of the accident very carefully, using photos and police reports as appropriate. This will not only help preserve evidence in case you decide to file a personal injury claim, but also help protect you in the event that another party tries to bring a claim against you. Remember that you can file a claim even if you were partially liable for the accident.
4. Check Your Medical Bills Carefully. A recent study conducted by NerdWallet found that overcharges and duplicate charges may be a significant factor in the high rates of medical debt faced by Californians. The study focused on checking Medicare bills for accuracy and found that of the 490 claims collected from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, 83 percent contained errors for a total overcharge of 40 percent. As your care progresses following your accident, review your medical bills carefully to ensure that the medical facility is charging you correctly and your insurance is covering what it is supposed to.
5. Hire an Attorney. This last step is absolutely imperative for a successful personal injury case. Your attorney can help you calculate your total damages from the accident and build a strong case for full and fair compensation that will help keep an accident from leaving you drowning in medical debt.
