What if my medical bills are more than my settlement? If your medical bills are more than your settlement, there may be options to secure more money through a clause in your settlement agreement, your insurance policies, or through other means.
For the best chance of pursuing these options successfully, get help from an Arlington personal injury lawyer.
Review Your Settlement Agreement for Clauses Regarding Medical Bills
If your medical bills are more than your settlement, ask your attorney to review your settlement agreement. It may include clauses regarding your medical costs and provide financial relief. You may have negotiated a settlement based on your expected costs, only to realize your actual costs are higher.
The language of the agreement may acknowledge that element of the “unknown” and allow room for more compensation in this specific area. The legal language of a settlement agreement can be difficult to parse on your own, and a lack of understanding can make you lose out on rightful compensation. An experienced lawyer can thoroughly explain the agreement terms.
You May Be Able to Seek Damages from Another Party
Once you sign a settlement agreement, the terms are final. You cannot modify them or file a new claim against the party represented in the agreement. Still, you may have grounds to seek compensation from another party whose negligence contributed to your accident and injuries.
For example, if you were involved in a multi-car accident, more than one of the other drivers may bear fault for the accident. If a vehicle malfunction contributed to the crash, the car manufacturer may also hold some culpability. Filing against one of these additional parties may help when your medical bills are more than your settlement.
Check Your Health and Auto Insurance Policies
Your own health insurance policy may cover your medical costs. In most cases, your medical insurance kicks in even before you have secured a settlement. If your insurance company denies coverage, your personal injury attorney in Arlington can review your policy and advocate on your behalf against any unjust treatment.
Unfortunately, insurance companies–even your own–typically put their own needs above their clients’ needs. A lawyer can remind them of their duty to you and hold them accountable for honoring the terms of your policy.
Your attorney can also review your auto insurance policy. You may have policy add-ons. Some companies encourage clients to include add-ons, providing specific, additional coverage to pay medical bills resulting from a crash.
Texas PIP Insurance
The Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) provides an explanation of the state’s auto insurance guide. All drivers must carry minimum liability coverage. This insurance covers victims of accidents caused by the policyholder. All auto insurance policies also come with Personal Injury Protection (PIP).
PIP coverage pays for the policyholder or their passengers’ medical costs and lost wages. If you do not want PIP coverage, you must inform the company of this preference in writing. Otherwise, it is included in your policy.
Your Insurance Company Can File
Your health insurance company may also need to file against the at-fault party. The company may have knocked on your door first, hoping to recoup its money at your expense. You may not be responsible for those bills.
It could be on your health insurance company to file its own claim against the at-fault party or that party’s insurance. They can recover their losses from the negligent party, not from you.
You May Be Able to Negotiate Your Medical Bills Down
To get the settlement you deserve, it is worth getting an attorney for a car accident or any other personal injury claim. An attorney can also help after the fact, especially if your medical bills are more than the settlement. You may be able to negotiate those bills down, but you will likely have more success if you have an attorney handle those discussions.
Your Arlington personal injury attorney can review your medical bills and look for unnecessary charges or unwarranted fees. There may be opportunities to show evidence of financial hardship, such as an inability to work or low income, demonstrating that paying the stated amount is not possible and would put you in unreasonable financial distress.
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) even offers a consumer advisory to pause and review your rights when you hear from a medical debt collector. Sometimes, patients are charged for services they did not receive or for bills their insurance already paid.
Other Options When Your Medical Bills Are More Than Your Settlement
It is always best to consult with an attorney before settling a car accident case or other injury claim. A key role of a motorcycle accident lawyer, car accident lawyer, or personal injury lawyer representing you in any accident claim is to make sure you get the highest compensation available, so you do not have to worry about paying your bills.
If you agreed to an amount too quickly or without seeking legal help, there are other ways to work through your situation:
- Debt Counseling: A debt counselor can help you get a grasp on your overall financial situation and develop a plan to get you out of debt.
- Payment Plans: Most facilities would rather receive some money slowly than none at all, so you may be able to work out a payment plan to address your bills.
- Non-Profit Organizations: Some non-profits focus on helping people facing high medical bills and assist in securing grants, reducing bills, or providing other forms of relief.
- Government Programs: You may be eligible for disability payments or other government-funded support that could take care of some or all of your medical bills.
Exploring all possibilities can help you avoid the emotional distress and poor credit ratings that result from having unpaid debt.
Get the Settlement You Need and Deserve
The Texas Law Dog will fight to get the settlement you need and deserve, so you do not have a situation where your medical bills are more than your settlement.
We will fight to secure your financial future. For guidance regarding your settlement, connect with us today for a free case review.
