The unexpected has happened: You were driving on the highway, and as you slowed down for traffic, the car behind you rammed into you. You’re injured and hurting. You’re in the Emergency Room, and you know you need more medical care. There’s one huge problem. You can’t afford the high cost of medical treatment. You don’t have health insurance or, if you do, deductibles and co-pays are so high you might as well have none. This situation underscores the importance of distracted driving awareness, as it can lead to accidents like the one you’ve experienced, further compounding the financial and emotional burden. You can’t afford thousands of dollars for the treatment you need!
If you have been injured in an accident that was not your fault, and you need medical care, call the Terry Bryant law firm at 713-973-8888 or toll-free 1 (800) 444-5000 for a free consultation. We may be able to help.
If you have a medical emergency, go to a hospital or emergency room. But understand that an emergency room will usually only stabilize your condition. Once your “emergency” is resolved, the treatment typically stops, and you are told to “see your doctor” for further care. In some cases, you may walk out of an emergency room in need of surgery, but your lack of insurance will result in your not receiving the care you need.
How will you get the medical care you need? Call the Terry Bryant law firm at 713-973-8888 or toll-free 1 (800) 444-5000 for a free consultation. We may be able to help you with medical care for your accident-related injuries.
You may call your family doctor or internist, only to have their office refuse to see you because you were in an accident. What can you do? Call the Terry Bryant law firm at 713-973-8888 or toll-free 1 (800) 444-5000 for a free consultation. We may be able to help you find doctors who will treat your accident-related injuries.
How can I afford medical treatment? If you have been injured in an accident that was not your fault, call the Terry Bryant law firm at 713-973-8888 or toll-free 1 (800) 444-5000 for a free consultation. We may be able to use a Letter of Protection (LOP) to arrange for your treatment.
What is a Letter of Protection (LOP)?
A Letter of Protection (LOP) is an agreement your attorney sends to your medical provider, promising your medical bills will be paid out from the settlement you receive at the end for your injuries. In short, an LOP will buy you time so that you won’t have to pay your medical provider up front, and it will delay collection efforts.
LOPs are useful in situations when:
- you don’t have the funds to pay for your medical visits up front;
- you don’t have health insurance; or
- your health insurance has high deductible and/or coinsurance amounts.
Are LOPs necessary?
If you have the money or credit to afford your medical treatment, there may be no need for an LOP. Sometimes your health insurance company won’t pay the bills, including wrongful death expenses, because you have been in an accident, or you will be required to pay large coinsurance or deductible amounts. Additionally, when you go through your health insurance, you may find your doctor’s treatment decisions are second-guessed by the insurance company, and you have to navigate through a series of approvals and denials of care. These issues can disrupt the continuity of care and delay recovery from your injuries.
An LOP may offer a solution to these problems. An LOP will allow you to treat with your medical provider, and all medical decisions are between you and the doctor. You will not be asked to make any payments until the conclusion of your case, in exchange for the promise that you will pay them back directly from any settlement you receive.
My injuries are not severe. Should I still see a doctor under an LOP?
If you’re under the impression that you don’t need medical treatment because your injuries seem minor and not life-threatening, don’t make the mistake of not seeking medical care immediately. You cannot know how serious your injuries are at the moment of your accident, and some injuries that appear minor later turn out to be very significant.
You want to do everything you can to take care of your well-being after being involved in a wreck. For example, if you’re having headaches and you think they’ll go away by taking aspirin, a mild head injury could turn out to be a serious brain injury, but you have no way of knowing unless a medical expert evaluates you.
It’s prudent to seek immediate medical care, because your medical provider will document the injuries attributed to the wreck. If there are no records, you will not have anything to support your claim. If you wait too long to seek medical treatment, the insurance company will likely come back and assert that your injuries are not serious or were not caused by the wreck.
LOPs were created to give you the flexibility of getting the treatment you need. If your attorney settles the case or obtains a judgment, the attorney must make sure the medical provider’s bill is paid out of those settlement funds. If recovery is not obtained, you will still be responsible for paying your medical bills, and your medical provider has a right to start the debt collection process to pursue payment, just like any other debt.
Can an LOP be used against me in my claim?
Insurance company lawyers will try to use LOPs to claim that your attorney and medical providers were conspiring to get more money out of the insurance company. They will claim that your medical provider’s bill is way too high and try to use the LOP as a means of showing your medical provider’s bias. Regardless, your focus should be on obtaining immediate medical care, and an LOP will assist you in that endeavor.
Don’t let the insurance companies pay out less money than what you deserve.
When you obtain legal representation, the insurance companies will know you mean business. Don’t let the insurance companies minimize the compensation you deserve. When you get involved in a motor vehicle accident, you have a lot going through your mind. Your focus should be on getting treated immediately and letting an attorney fight for your rights.
During these challenging economic times, many people don’t have savings they can use to pay for medical treatment. Several people don’t have health insurance for the same reasons. An LOP can give you the flexibility you need to get treated immediately after the wreck.
If you’ve been recently injured in a motor vehicle incident and have sustained injuries, contact our legal team at the Terry Bryant Law Firm immediately at 713-973-8888 or toll-free 1 (800) 444-5000. Don’t wait. We will fight for your rights and to obtain the compensation you deserve.
Attorney Terry Bryant
Terry Bryant is Board Certified in personal injury trial law, which means his extensive knowledge of the law has been recognized by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, setting him apart from many other injury attorneys. The 22 years he spent as a Municipal Judge, Spring Valley Village, TX also provides him keen insight into the Texas court system. That experience also helps shape his perspective on personal injury cases and how they might resolve. This unique insight benefits his clients. [ Attorney Bio ]
