Q.
I was in a serious car accident and an ambulance arrived right away. My wrist was hurting so badly that I wanted to go to the ER, but I knew that ambulances and ERs are very expensive in the US, and since I didn’t have health insurance at the time, I decided not to take the ambulance and just go home and rest. Two weeks after the accident, my wrist got worse and I ended up going to the hospital for an X-ray. The doctor said that I had a fractured wrist bone and needed immediate surgery, and that I could have chronic pain and arthritis. Can I get immediate compensation through the other party’s insurance so that I can get the surgery? I have no money and no health insurance.
A.
Unlike Korea, in the US, a simple visit to the emergency room can cost you $3,000 to $4,000. And the cost of taking an ambulance to the emergency room is about $700 to $900. Therefore, if you have to pay for medical expenses yourself, it can be a huge burden.
Many people have difficulty qualifying for Medi-Cal because their income is higher than the standard for Medi-Cal benefits. Also, many people in the United States are uninsured because private insurance is expensive and burdensome to purchase. Especially for young and healthy people, it is not easy to pay for health insurance that they will not use right away rather than save money.
However, accidents can happen regardless of age. If you are not at fault when you are in an accident, the other party's car insurance will cover your medical expenses only after you have completed treatment for your injuries. (This is different from Korea, where insurance companies negotiate compensation quickly when an accident occurs.)
Experienced personal injury attorneys work with a variety of professionals, including doctors, therapists, and physical therapists, to ensure that patients do not have to pay for their medical care up front.
In such cases, the doctor trusts the lawyer and waits for the lawyer to settle the case and receive the settlement money. The patient signs a “Lien Agreement” to pay the money after the case is settled, and if the settlement money is lower than expected, the doctor will reduce the treatment fee because he needs to save some money for the patient. And if there is no settlement money at all, the lawyer will try to convince the doctor not to receive the treatment fee.
Therefore, in your situation, you should not delay treatment and should consult with an experienced attorney who can connect you with the best orthopedic surgeon (Hand Specialist) to ensure that you get the treatment you need.
When you are involved in a car accident, remember that your safety and health cannot be compromised, even if you do not have health insurance.
Q.
I was in a serious car accident and an ambulance arrived right away. My wrist was hurting so badly that I wanted to go to the ER, but I knew that ambulances and ERs are very expensive in the US, and since I didn’t have health insurance at the time, I decided not to take the ambulance and just go home and rest. Two weeks after the accident, my wrist got worse and I ended up going to the hospital for an X-ray. The doctor said that I had a fractured wrist bone and needed immediate surgery, and that I could have chronic pain and arthritis. Can I get immediate compensation through the other party’s insurance so that I can get the surgery? I have no money and no health insurance.
A.
Unlike Korea, in the US, a simple visit to the emergency room can cost you $3,000 to $4,000. And the cost of taking an ambulance to the emergency room is about $700 to $900. Therefore, if you have to pay for medical expenses yourself, it can be a huge burden. Many people have difficulty qualifying for Medi-Cal because their income is higher than the standard for Medi-Cal benefits. Also, many people in the United States are uninsured because private insurance is expensive and burdensome to purchase. Especially for young and healthy people, it is not easy to pay for health insurance that they will not use right away rather than save money. However, accidents can happen regardless of age. If you are not at fault when you are in an accident, the other party's car insurance will cover your medical expenses only after you have completed treatment for your injuries. (This is different from Korea, where insurance companies negotiate compensation quickly when an accident occurs.) Experienced personal injury attorneys work with a variety of professionals, including doctors, therapists, and physical therapists, to ensure that patients do not have to pay for their medical care up front. In such cases, the doctor trusts the lawyer and waits for the lawyer to settle the case and receive the settlement money. The patient signs a “Lien Agreement” to pay the money after the case is settled, and if the settlement money is lower than expected, the doctor will reduce the treatment fee because he needs to save some money for the patient. And if there is no settlement money at all, the lawyer will try to convince the doctor not to receive the treatment fee. Therefore, in your situation, you should not delay treatment and should consult with an experienced attorney who can connect you with the best orthopedic surgeon (Hand Specialist) to ensure that you get the treatment you need. When you are involved in a car accident, remember that your safety and health cannot be compromised, even if you do not have health insurance.