After a car accident, your medical bills might start to overwhelm you. It can get to the point where car accident victims avoid checking their mail for fear of another bill, which is a terrible feeling. Hire a personal injury car accident attorney immediately following a car accident injury to prevent yourself from being overwhelmed. We can often halt collection efforts or redirect them to our office instead of your home.
When you are trying to heal after an accident that was not your fault, dealing with bill collectors should be your last concern. Car insurance companies should process claims and pay medical bills promptly. They rarely do. Sometimes they have good reasons to investigate a claim. Other times, they are just really slow. Meanwhile, you are overwhelmed by bills and maybe even turned over to collections, which could affect your credit score.
Steps you should take when receiving medical bills after a car accident
First of all, take a deep breath. If you have a good Louisiana car accident attorney on your side, everything will work out in the end. Here are the five steps you should take as your medical bills start to pile up.
- Provide the doctors and hospital with the car insurance company’s information. Also, use your own health insurance for coverage, if available.
- Let your attorney know about every medical visit you have attended or plan to attend. Send your attorney a copy of every medical bill you receive after a car accident.
- Pay the medical bills as they come due. You should not let these bills become past due because they will have a bearing on your credit score, which could have long-term effects on your financial wellbeing.
- If you cannot pay your bills, contact the medical provider’s office to see if you can set up a payment plan or delay payments while your claim is being investigated. Many medical providers are aware of how these situations work and can be patient with you as you work toward a solution.
- Get your lawyer involved early. If you make it clear that you have the means to file a lawsuit and dispute any poor rulings from the insurance company, they might be more likely to move quickly and in your best interest to avoid hefty settlements.
Dealing with the car insurance company after an accident
You should allow your attorney to have all conversations with the insurance company after an accident. Sadly, car insurance companies do not have victims’ best interests at heart. Instead, they look to cut corners and reduce expenses wherever they can, even if it means hurting you in the process.
It is rare that a written or recorded statement is necessary. But every phone call with the insurance company is recorded. If you must have conversations with the insurance adjuster, choose your words wisely. What you say can and will be held against you. Better yet, allow your attorney to speak on your behalf.
Hiring a good Louisiana car accident attorney is the key to avoiding the long-term effects of a car accident. Avoid going into debt over medical payments or being forced to foot the bill for your treatments. Contact us to start a conversation about how we can help protect you in car accident lawsuits.
