We’ve spent a lot of time on this blog talking about how to position yourself for a successful personal injury claim. That information is critically important as you move forward with your case, but if you’re struggling to get by in the aftermath of a car accident, then you’re probably just trying to figure out how to get by on a day-to-day basis. This includes paying your medical bills while your personal injury claim is pending.
Hospitals and letters of promise
There are several ways to handle your medical bills while your personal injury claim is pending. One option is to talk to your medical providers to see if they’ll defer your payments until your personal injury case is resolved. Most hospitals are willing to do this, but they’ll probably want to put something in writing so that their interests are protected. This may mean that they ask you to sign a letter of promise, which essentially creates a contract saying that you will pay your bills once your case is resolved.
Utilizing your auto insurance
Depending on your policy, your auto insurance may cover a certain portion of your medical expenses. You’ll have to pay this money back once you recover from your personal injury lawsuit, but this option may help bridge the gap. However, most people lack adequate coverage under this policy to meet their medical treatment needs, which means that you may need to turn to some of the other options discussed here.
Using your health insurance
Another option is to simply rely on your health insurance to pay. But remember that your policy has limits, and your insurance isn’t going to go over that cap. That means that you might still be on the hook for any outstanding medical expense in excess of your policy’s limits. And your insurance company is probably going to want to put a lien against your personal injury case so that it can recover what it has paid for your treatment.
Seeking out a loan backed by your personal injury claim
A lawsuit loan may be an option available to you, but we urge caution with pursuing it. Here, you essentially use your potential personal injury settlement as collateral to secure a loan. Keep in mind that this loan will have to be repaid from your personal injury award, and that you might have to pay a significant amount of interest on that loan. This means that the recovery that you pocket will actually end up being less than you expected.
Talk to family and friends
If these options don’t work for you, then you can always talk to your friends and family to see if anyone is willing to lend you a helping hand while you await your recovery. We know that these can be difficult conversations to have, which is why most people turn to this route as an option of last resort. But it’s worth remembering that it’s an option out there.
Find help navigating life post-accident
We know that you’re dealing with a lot right now. And it’s probably too much to handle on your own. That’s why competent law firms like ours stand ready to help you along the road to recovery, whether that means speaking with your hospital about payment issues or negotiating and litigating your personal injury claim. So, if you’d like to learn more about what strong representation can do for you, then please research your advocate options and consider speaking to one that you think is right for you.
