It’s no secret that medical care is expensive. When you are involved in an accident, you need medical attention right away. Unfortunately, you might not always be able to pay for that care right away. While the at-fault party is supposed to pay for your medical bills after an accident, they don’t have to make those payments immediately. Instead, you may need to wait months or even years to get money from your legal case.
What happens when you can’t pay medical bills, and you’re waiting for money from the at-fault party? Will those bills just go to collections? Likely not, if your personal injury attorney takes action on your behalf to send a “letter of protection.”
What does a Letter of Protection Do?
A letter of protection is correspondence that an attorney like a slip and fall lawyer or a car accident lawyer drafts to send to the hospital so that you can get medical care while your case is pending. Although it’s drafted as a letter, is more than that.
A letter of protection is a legally binding document that indicates that the hospital will be paid from any money that you get out of the lawsuit. If you don’t collect anything from your claim, then you will be responsible for paying medical costs out of pocket.
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Do I Need a Letter of Protection?
Sometimes your health insurance will refuse to pay for medical care when they believe the at-fault person or entity should be paying for your medical expenses. But, the at-fault person may also dispute that they should have to pay for your treatment too. While these two insurance companies fight about this issue, you end up having to either wait for medical care because you can’t afford it or pay for the services yourself outright.
A letter of protection allows you to essentially pause any obligation you may have to pay the hospital while you work through your legal case. It takes some pressure off while you focus on your legal case while getting the medical help you need. While John Foy & Associates handles your case, we can write you a letter of protection so you don’t have to worry.
Should I Pay for All My Medical Expenses after a Car Accident?
It may not be a good idea to pay for your medical expenses even if you can afford them. In some situations, you and your doctor may not realize how much follow-up treatment you need after your accident. Waiting until you have fully recovered (or as much as you can) will allow you to more accurately determine how much your physical and mental injuries after an accident will cost.
Settling your case too quickly makes you run the risk of getting money that may not fully address all of your losses. There is no opportunity to go back to the insurance company and ask for more money if you settle.That’s true even if you realize that your injuries are going to be much more expensive than you first estimated.
Talk to a Personal Injury Lawyer for Free
Personal injury lawyers John Foy & Associates can write you a letter of protection if you need it. Don’t let the pressure of medical bills force you to settle for less than what your case is worth. Call us or fill out the form to the right to get your free consultation today.
404-400-4000 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
