I need medical treatment for injuries I suffered in an accident. I don’t have any insurance that will pay for surgery or physical therapy. What can I do?
Nothing is more frustrating than being unable to pay for necessary medical treatment after an accident.
One possibility is a letter from me to your doctor or physical therapist promising to pay any bills you incur out of the money you recover from your settlement with the insurance company. This is called a guarantee letter.
There are disadvantages to guarantee letters. Many doctors are unwilling to accept them as the only security for their bill. (This may be because some lawyers don’t have a good history of honoring them. So you know, a lawyer is ethically required to honor these guarantee obligations.) Also, sometimes there is not enough money in the settlement to pay for the necessary medical treatment. And you have to pay the doctor sooner or later.
My approach is to handle these things on a case by case basis. I don’t like to guarantee payment to a doctor or a hospital for past treatment, because when the case settles, many clients want me to ask the doctor or hospital to take less than the amount they are owed in satisfaction of the debt. (My job is to honor my client’s wishes consistent with the rules set forth by the Ohio Supreme Court for ethical conduct). And once treatment has been rendered, doctors and hospitals would usually much rather wait to accept payment at the end of a case than actually file suit against their patients. In fact, I cannot remember a case in which one of my clients was actually sued by their doctor.
If there is an urgent need for the treatment, and no available funds, then a guarantee letter may be the best option. Either way, I will be happy to discuss your options with you. It is a personal decision, and you have a right to make it with the best advice possible. Why not speak with an experienced Cincinnati Injury Attorney – call me at 513-621-4775 for a free consultation.
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