Personal injury settlements and judgments are supposed to compensate injury victims for all damages and losses incurred due to an incident, accident or other event causing injuries. By some injury victims are surprised to learn there can be a big difference between the amount of a settlement and the amount they ultimately receive. That’s often because of medical liens placed by doctors, hospitals, and other healthcare providers on settlement or judgment proceeds.
Personal injury settlements and judgments are supposed to compensate injury victims for all damages and losses incurred due to an incident, accident or other event causing injuries. By some injury victims are surprised to learn there can be a big difference between the amount of a settlement and the amount they ultimately receive. That’s often because of medical liens placed by doctors, hospitals, and other healthcare providers on settlement or judgment proceeds.
These liens give those who treated a victim’s injuries the right to recoup the cost of that care from any proceeds received in a personal injury case lawsuit. Accordingly, it is often wise to consult a personal injury attorney before signing such an agreement.
At Parrish & Jennings, we work with injury victims immediately after their accident and at the end of their case to keep medical liens from eating up too much of the compensation they deserve for their injuries. Our experience and negotiating skills allow us to protect our clients’ bottom line and maximize the amount of money they receive.
What Is a Medical Lien?
A medical lien, sometimes called a hospital lien, is an agreement between a personal injury victim and their healthcare provider in which the provider agrees to provide medical care in exchange for the patient giving them a right to recoup the costs of that care out of any personal injury lawsuit proceeds. Providers most frequently use medical liens when patients are uninsured or have no other way to pay for their care. Not only can a lien agreement substantially reduce the net amount of a settlement, but it also leaves the victim on the hook for the costs of their care if they recover nothing in their personal injury case.
Even insured injury victims must protect their settlement proceeds from such medical claims. Insurers often claim a right of subrogation on personal injury settlements, meaning they want to recover the amount of benefits they paid out for their insured’s medical care.
How Parrish and Jennings Can Help With Medical Liens
Medical liens are negotiable before a victim signs an agreement and after obtaining a settlement or judgment. With the help of the experienced Denver injury attorneys at Parrish and Jennings, liens can be reduced, and the provider may agree to accept a lesser amount rather than fight about their lien and the legitimacy of the medical costs they seek to recover. Further, some liens that are subject to Colorado law (see C.R.S. § 10-1-135) may be discharged entirely (i.e. do not need to be paid back at all).
Parrish and Jennings: Denver Personal Injury Lawyers
At Parrish and Jennings, we work tirelessly to recover the maximum compensation available for injury victims. This includes minimizing the proceeds that go to others instead of our clients. If you have recently been in an injury causing incident or accident and a healthcare provider asks you to sign a medical lien agreement, we may be able to help, so please call. We may be able to work out a much more favorable arrangement that could mean more money at the end of your case.
Please contact us today to arrange for your free initial consultation. We look forward to the privilege of serving you.