Recovering Medical Bills and Wages After an Injury
Upper Marlboro Personal Injury Claim Attorneys
La Plata Injury Compensation Lawyers
After the dust settles following a serious accident, the injury victim's primary worries are often about getting medical bills paid and getting back to work or getting compensation for lost wages. This page of our website provides some general information on these topics.
If you have been in a serious accident, we encourage you to consult with one of our Upper Marlboro personal injury claim lawyers for information specific to your case. Sasscer, Clagett & Bucher was founded in 1920 and is a pre-eminent law firm serving Southern Maryland. Contact us online or call 301-627-5500 to make an appointment.
Paying for medical treatment after an accident
If you were hurt in a car accident, then you will be covered by personal injury protection benefits under your auto insurance policy unless those benefits have been waived. PIP benefits will pay for at least $2,500 of medical treatment at any facility you choose. You can also submit bills for medical care to your health care insurance company, which may ask to be paid back out of any compensation you get from a personal injury claim. Your attorney will help you negotiate this lien.
Most serious injuries require lengthy treatment by independent specialists who may not accept your health insurance. Although your health insurer may offer approved doctors in these specialties, those doctors are paid by the health insurance companies and don't necessarily have any interest in creating medical records that fully and accurately document your injuries. Remember, your injury case rests partly on documentation made by your doctors.
If you are like most people and cannot afford to pay a board-certified doctor, many doctors will agree to treat you if you sign an agreement to pay the doctor’s bill out of the personal injury settlement or award.
You should discuss your options with your lawyer before submitting any claims to Medicare, because Medicare has "super rights" to collect reimbursement if you get financial compensation via an insurance settlement or jury verdict. There may be other possible sources of financial assistance that are less complicated.
Who will pay for my lost wages?
The person or company that caused your injuries via negligent or intentional wrongdoing is legally responsible for reimbursing you for wages you lost due to time off work due to the accident. You will need doctor's authorization to stay off work, and your employer will have to complete a document indicating the time lost from work and your wages. Some percentage of your lost wages may also be reimbursed through personal injury protection coverage.
Contact Sasscer, Clagett & Bucher
If you have questions about compensation for medical expenses or lost wages after an accident or an assault, we encourage you to call 301-627-5500 or e-mail our office to consult with one of our personal injury lawyers. We serve clients throughout Maryland from offices in Upper Marlboro and La Plata.
Sasscer, Clagett & Bucher
Prince George's County, Maryland
SCB accepts Visa and MasterCard. These credit cards may be used to pay for legal work previously performed and expenses incurred by the firm for the client. But there are ethical restrictions on the acceptance of credit card payments for retainer fees (i.e., advance payment for work or expenses to be performed or incurred). Because of those restrictions, SCB cannot accept credit card payments for retainers and other advance payments. (For further details, see Maryland State Bar Ass'n, Ethics Docket 02-23 (Acceptance of Credit Card Payment as Retainer)).