Dec 28, 2020 | By 1p21.admin | Read Time: 2 minutesAfter a car accident, figuring out how to handle medical bills is often a tremendous concern. Unfortunately, you will bear the responsibility for paying your medical bills, but only at first. If another party is at fault for your accident, they are responsible for paying your treatment. However, their insurance company is only going to make one payment to you once your claim is resolved, rather than reimbursing you on an ongoing basis for every appointment or procedure. Potential Sources of Payments for Your Medical Bills You are responsible for your medical bills after a car accident, but that doesn’t mean the payments have to all come out-of-pocket. There are a few potential sources that may cover your treatment. Personal Injury Protection (PIP) Coverage PIP is the most common source of payment for medical bills in Texas. It is a form of auto insurance coverage and will pay for your medical bills up to your policy limits. It will also pay for other things like lost wages and other non medical costs. Auto policies in Texas will automatically come with PIP, unless you inform your insurer in writing that you are opting out. Health Insurance Personal health insurance coverage is also a common source of payment for medical bills. It can be used on its own, or to cover the remaining expenses after your PIP has reached its limit, but you will still have to pay for any deductibles or copayments. Oftentimes, people make the mistake of not wanting their health insurance provider to cover their bills that arise from a car accident. However, more often than not, you should have all of your medical bills go through your health insurance provider if possible. Doing this can save you a lot of money in the long run. Even though your health insurer is entitled to recoup the payments made on your behalf from your settlement or judgement, your attorney can negotiate how much will come out of your award. Medical Payment Coverage (Med Pay) Med Pay is similar to PIP, as it is an optional form of auto insurance coverage, but it only pays for your medical bills after an accident. It does not come with stipulations, meaning it will cover fees from any licensed doctor, ambulance, hospital, etc. The one restriction is your policy limit. Policies often range from $1,000 to upwards of $100,000, but it will depend on the type of coverage you bought. Any costs for treatment beyond your coverage limit will be your personal responsibility. When to Expect Payment for Your Medical Bills Resolving your case with the at-fault party can be a long process, especially when it comes to obtaining payment for medical bills related to your injury. How quickly you recover payment will depend on the severity of your injuries and your requirement for ongoing care, as well as whether you settle outside of court or take the case to trial. Settling fast, however, might mean you will receive an amount of compensation that is 60 to 70 percent less than what you might be offered if your case makes it to trial. Speak to a Highly Qualified Houston Car Accident Attorney It can be incredibly frustrating to have to deal with medical bills after being hurt in a car accident that someone else is responsible for. To discuss your options and for help with your claim, call (713) 489-4270 or contact Milano Legal Group online. We offer free consultations, schedule one today.
Read More Dec 23, 2020 | By 1p21.admin | Read Time: 2 minutesHundreds of car accident victims suffer whiplash injuries every day. If it happens to you, you are entitled to compensation. A whiplash injury can be debilitating for a long period of time, disrupting ordinary life. What Types of Compensation Can I Recover in a Whiplash Claim? The types of compensation available to whiplash injury victims will likely include: Current and future medical bills related to the injury Current and future lost wages if the victim is unable to work Pain and suffering Loss of enjoyment of life Any other out-of-pocket expenses related to the injury How Much Compensation can I Receive for a Whiplash Injury? There are many factors taken into account when whiplash compensation is being calculated. The severity of the injury, your financial losses, and how the injury has impacted your way of life will influence your claims’ value. The majority of whiplash injuries are classified as minor, with an average recovery time of around 4-5 weeks. Ninety percent of people fully recover within three months. For these cases, the approximate range of compensation is between $2,500 and $10,000. Most of the other 10 percent or so of cases, where there is permanent or recurring pain that lasts for years, the amount may escalate to around $30,000. At the other end of the scale, a small minority of car accident victims suffers permanent cervical spine damage. This type of whiplash injury can result in chronic pain, headaches, and a variety of other symptoms. For these cases, there may be a six-figure settlement or more. What are the Symptoms of Whiplash? Whiplash neck injuries occur when the impact of a car accident causes the head to violently and abruptly be thrown backward and then forward. Symptoms can include: Stiffness in the neck – soreness and difficulty moving the neck, especially when trying to turn the head to the side. Blurred vision – a lack of sharpness of vision resulting in the inability to see fine details. Headaches – a tightening around the head and neck, followed by aches. Lower back pain – any pain between the bottom of your rib cage down to the top of your legs. Dizziness – a sensation of spinning and losing one’s balance. Ringing in the ears (tinnitus) Sleep disturbances Irritability Tingling or numbness in the arms Difficulty concentrating Rear-end car accidents are the most common cause of whiplash. Do I Need a Lawyer for My Whiplash Injury Claim? Insurance companies will typically offer an amount of compensation for a whiplash injury that is a fraction of how much you may legally be entitled to claim. Speaking to a car accident lawyer before accepting any type of settlement offer will protect you from recovering less than what you’ll need for the injury’s impact on your life. Although whiplash injuries typically heal, they leave victims in pain with reduced mobility, and a decreased overall quality of life. As a result, they may require ongoing medical care and may also miss days, weeks, or even months of work. Most Houston car accident lawyers offer free consultations to discuss your case and learn its value.
Read More Dec 21, 2020 | By 1p21.admin | Read Time: 2 minutesWhether or not you should sign a release after a car accident depends on the specifics of your case. Any time you are injured in a collision caused by the careless or reckless behavior of another person, the insurance company for the at-fault party will ask you to sign a release of liability. However, it could be a mistake to do so before consulting with an attorney. What is a Release of Liability? Signing a release form basically means you are letting go or releasing the responsible party from further liability. In other words, you are giving up your right to sue for any future damages resulting from the accident. For instance, you may not be compensated for future medical bills, lost income, or pain and suffering. Do Insurance Companies Require a Signed Release Form? The at-fault driver’s insurance company may ask you to sign a release form before paying you any compensation, or paying the body shop you have chosen to repair your vehicle. It is a final payment, so you must review the form carefully to make sure that you are only releasing liability for the aspects of your claim which you have settled. For instance, if your claim has not been finalized with regard to your injuries suffered in the accident, make sure the form does not release liability for your injury. If your own insurance company is paying you for the accident, they will also require a signed release of liability. What To Do Before Signing a Release of Liability Before signing a release of liability, schedule a free consultation with an attorney to discuss your case. Insurance companies will often pressure car accident victims to sign a release and accept a quick settlement offer. They do this in an attempt to minimize payouts on a claim. A car accident attorney can advise you on if you are recovering the maximum amount of compensation allowable for your claim. Additionally, you may need permission from your own car insurance company before signing a release of liability. This is typically the case when your insurer must pursue a subrogation claim. Subrogation refers to the process by which your insurance company recovers money from the at-fault party or their insurer for funds they, or you have already paid. For instance, if you are hit by an underinsured driver whose policy limits aren’t enough to fully compensate you for your losses, your own insurer may be able to make up the difference under your underinsured motorist coverage. Your insurer will then use your legal right to go after the other driver or their insurer to recover the money they paid you. If you sign a release without your insurer’s permission, they will not have the ability to go after the other driver for reimbursement. Your insurer may then try to deny your claim for benefits under your underinsured motorist coverage. We Can Help Our Houston car accident attorneys have extensive experience helping injured victims navigate their claims. Contact us today through our website or by calling (713) 489-4270 to schedule a free consultation.
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