In a car accident, insurance coverage will always play a big role in your recovery. Unfortunately, this ends up meaning that you often have to make hugely important decisions in the immediate aftermath of the crash. Poor medical insurance can make you think about denying the medical attention you think you can do without.
That seems to be behind a recent truck accident in St. Joseph.
Trucker Denies Medical Attention After Crash
According to the news story reporting the crash, a tractor trailer was merging onto Highway 36 from Stockyards Expressway in St. Joseph. Cargo shifted in the trailer, though, and the trucker lost control.
The semi-truck turned over and blocked several eastbound lanes of Highway 36.
The truck driver suffered minor injuries, but refused medical treatment. He was not ticketed for a traffic violation, which suggests that police are treating it as a blameless accident.
Car Accident Victims Often Deny Medical Care for Lack of Insurance
Many car accident victims are worried that their insurance will not cover their injuries and that they will not be able to pay out of their own pocket. So they skimp on medical care that they desperately need, or that they think they can do without.
These worries are not unreasonable. Many people who struggle to make ends meet only get the state minimum car insurance coverage, which only covers injuries they cause on the road. If they are the ones who get hurt, they would have to turn to their own medical insurance which, if they have it, can come with high co-pays and exorbitant deductibles that will strain the victim financially for years.
How Medical Liens Work: The Basics
Medical liens are designed to help some car accident victims who find themselves in this tough position.
A medical lien is a basically an IOU that a healthcare provider can take from you in exchange for providing medical care, right now. That IOU gets paid out of any settlement you get against the person responsible for the crash.
In that way, the lien is a lot like a loan. The difference is that liens are paid by sources of money that you expect to get in the future.
Smith Law Office: Car Accident Lawyers Serving St. Joseph
Medical liens are complicated because they involve both the healthcare system and insurance companies. However, in some cases, they can be a useful tool for car accident victims who need medical care after a crash but who do not think they can pay for it.
Because of how important medical liens are, we will delve into them in more detail in a future blog post.
If you or a loved one has been hurt in a car accident in the St. Joseph area, having a personal injury lawyer on your side can make a big difference in whether your recovery is a successful one or not. The lawyers at the Smith Law Office can help. Contact them online or call their law office at (816) 875-9393.