Anxiety, shock, hysteria, depression– these feelings and symptoms are common in the aftermath of a serious collision. Unfortunately, the emotional trauma of an accident is often compounded by physical pain and financial concerns.
The cost of medical treatment after a crash can be egregious. It is not uncommon for accident victims to lack the funds to pay for X-rays, ER visits, surgeries and other health-care costs.
If you are in this situation, contact Hammack Law Firm. Even if you do not have health insurance, you still have options. We work with medical providers to help you get back on your feet without putting you in further debt following an accident.
Nobody should have to endure an injury without medical treatment. As your injury lawyer in Greenville, Paul Hammack will help you arrange a payment agreement with a health-care provider. This may involve a medical lien, also known as an assignment of benefits or letter of protection, where medical offices agree to treat you without coming out of pocket immediately.
Read on to learn your options if you cannot afford your medical bills after a car accident:
When Will I Recover Compensation for My Injuries?
In most situations, it is unwise to accept a settlement offer until you know the full extent of your injuries. Otherwise, you risk accepting a settlement that does not pay all of your medical bills or fully compensating you for permanent injuries.
It may be the responsibility of the at-fault party to pay for medical bills after a car accident. Also, the liable party’s insurance company probably will not offer a settlement until your doctors’ records and medical bills have been submitted. Even when they do agree to pay you something, often they will promise to pay your medical bills but will leave you hanging once you sign the release.
If you have health insurance, then use that to cover as much of your medical bills as you can. Hammack Law Firm will negotiate with your health insurance provider at the end of your case to satisfy your medical bills. If you do not have health insurance or you cannot afford your copays, then your personal-injury attorney can negotiate an assignment or letter of protection on your behalf.
What Is a Medical Lien?
According to the South Carolina Legislature, an assignment of benefits is an agreement between a patient and a doctor or health-care facility in which the patient confirms that he or she will pay outstanding medical bills once his or her personal-injury case is finalized.
If you recover compensation from a settlement or trial verdict, part of those proceeds will be used to negotiate your medical bills or liens. As your Anderson personal injury attorney, Paul Hammack will fight for a settlement or verdict that is sufficient to zero out your outstanding medical bills – and allow you to walk away with extra money.
In addition to negotiating a medical lien, Paul Hammack can help you arrange a payment plan with your medical provider. This can prevent your debt from going to collections and affecting your credit.
Unfortunately, if your personal-injury claim is unsuccessful, you will still have to pay your outstanding medical expenses. This is why it is so important to enlist the help of an experienced injury lawyer who will aggressively represent your interests so you are not left with a mountain of debt.
Our Client Bill of Rights offers a 30-day unconditional satisfaction guarantee —no costs and no fees. We serve our Greenville clients in all areas of personal injury, including auto and motorcycle accidents, truck accidents, and boating accidents.
To get started with our Greenville personal injury law firm, please simply contact us online or call (864) 766-7108 for a free consultation.
With over 25 years of legal experience, Paul Hammack provides his clients with a level of trial expertise and strategic insight rarely found in personal injury litigation. Having spent the first eight years of his career working within major insurance defense firms across Georgia and South Carolina, Paul gained an intimate understanding of the “other side’s” playbook. This insurance industry background serves as a unique differentiator for his clients; he knows exactly how insurance carriers evaluate risk and what motivates them to pay top dollar for a claim.
In 2008, Paul founded Hammack Law Firm to move away from the “plaintiff mill” model and focus on building personal relationships with those he represents. As a seasoned litigator, he has tried dozens of first-chair cases to verdict, specializing in high-stakes litigation involving catastrophic injuries and complex truck accidents. His dual-state practice allows him to provide aggressive representation across both South Carolina and Georgia, ensuring victims of negligence receive the maximum financial compensation possible regardless of which side of the state line the accident occurred.
Paul’s commitment to excellence is reflected in his record of significant achievements, including a $10 million tractor-trailer wrongful death settlement and a $3.9 million moped-versus-truck recovery. His credentials and bar admissions in both South Carolina and Georgia underscore his deep roots in the regional legal community. Beyond the courtroom, Paul is a dedicated advocate for his local community, contributing his time and resources to organizations such as the United Way, Red Cross, and Hands On Greenville, all while working to make South Carolina a safer place for everyone.
