Do I Need a Lawyer if the Insurance Company Said it Will Pay My Medical Bills?

Personal injury lawyers commonly hear from potential clients that “the other driver’s insurance company said to send them my medical bills as I get treatment and they will pay the bills.”  Many believe that they can send medical bills to the insurance company after each appointment and the insurance company will send a check with no questions asked.

Unfortunately, it is not that simple and is a deceptive tactic by insurance companies to discourage you from hiring a lawyer and pursuing the damages you are entitled to under the law.

Why Insurance Companies Won’t Pay Medical Bills Without a Full Settlement Release

When you pursue a personal injury claim, the insurance company will not pay your medical bills without obtaining something in return, such as a legal release of your claims.  This includes a formal release of all economic and non-economic claims that you might have now and in the future.  Offering to pay your medical bills up front is a way to take advantage of you and avoid paying for other damages that you are legally entitled to.  

Quite simply, the insurance company is not going to pay your medical bills without assurance that the claim is resolved in full.  After all, why would the insurance company pay your medical bills if their payment isn’t going to settle the claim in full and you are still going to file a lawsuit or demand more money later? Therefore, in exchange for paying your medical bills, the insurance company will send a check that states “payment in full” or require you to sign a formal legal agreement that you will not pursue any additional settlement money now or in the future.  

Agreeing to settle your claim for payment of your medical bills is problematic for three main reasons.  First, you may not know the full extent of your injuries, medical treatment, medical bills, or lost income until months after an accident.  You may feel that you have improved at that specific moment, but you may later have a flare up or need emotional counseling for PTSD or anxiety that hasn’t yet come to light. If you agree to settle your claim for the medical bills you incurred in the days or weeks after the crash, you risk not being able to pursue recovery for your full injuries or any medical treatment down the road.

How Settling for Medical Bills Alone Could Cost You Thousands in Additional Damages

Second, most unrepresented injured parties do not know the full extent of the damages they are entitled to pursue under the law.  The insurance company wants to settle with you for your medical bills because that is only a fraction of what you can actually pursue from them.  You are entitled to pursue compensation for past and future medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, emotional distress, inconvenience, impairment, loss of enjoyment of life, etc.  If you settle your claim for your past medical bills, you may be leaving substantial money on the table that the insurance company would otherwise pay if you had a lawyer who could advocate for your rights.

Colorado Law Entitles You to Recover Full Medical Charges, Not Just Out-of-Pocket Costs

Third, many unrepresented parties do not understand the amount of the actual medical bills they can pursue. We commonly hear that a potential client just wants to be reimbursed for what they paid on their medical bills.  However, in Colorado, you are entitled to recover the full charged amount of your bills, not what is left over after payment by your health insurance or the balance remaining for co-pays, deductibles, write-offs and adjustments.   This can be a difference of thousands of dollars.  Unless you know your rights and have consulted with an experienced personal injury attorney, the insurance company may attempt to reimburse you for an amount of your medical bills that is substantially less than what you are actually entitled to. 

The insurance company may even act like they are concerned for you and “graciously” throw in some additional money for pain and suffering.  They are not doing this out of the kindness of their heart.  Nine times out of ten they will offer you a mere fraction of what you are actually entitled to recover in order to take advantage of someone who does not have a lawyer.

Don’t Let Insurance Companies Pressure You Into Early Settlement: Know Your Rights First

In a nutshell, the insurance company is not going to voluntarily pay your medical bills without getting something in return.  They will not pay your medical bills now and then later ask you how much more money you want to settle your other claims.  If the insurance company offers to pay your bills, they are going to expect that the claim is settled in full.  Offering to pay your medical bills up front is a way to take advantage of you and avoid paying for the rest of your claim.  They don’t want you to hire an attorney.  They are looking out for their best interests, not yours.

Before you take the insurance company’s word for it, you should always consult with an experienced personal injury lawyer to know your rights. At McQuaid Injury Law, we can evaluate your claim, discuss your rights, and guide you in the right direction.  Contact us now for a free consultation.