The cost of a personal injury can be devastating. Victims can incur a wide range of economic and non-economic losses. Still, in many cases, some of the most significant damages stem from the cost of injured parties’ medical expenses.
If you were hurt as the result of someone else’s negligence in Chicago, then the person responsible for your injury can be held accountable for your medical bills. However, obtaining a fair settlement from the at-fault party can take a long time. You may need to have your own health insurance providers cover your medical expenses and then seek reimbursement after your settlement or verdict comes through.
If you need help acquiring payment for medical expenses, seek guidance from our experienced Chicago personal injury attorneys by calling the Rhatigan Law Offices at (312) 578-8502.
Who is Responsible for Your Medical Bills After Suffering a Personal Injury in Chicago?
In Illinois, the party responsible for your personal injury is obligated to pay for the medical treatment you require. Typically, compensation is sought from the at-fault party’s insurance company. However, acquiring a fair settlement or verdict can take a long time.
Accordingly, if you have health insurance, you should use that insurance to pay for your medical treatment if the at-fault party’s insurer will not pay up front. After acquiring compensation, you can use the damages you are awarded to reimburse your healthcare provider for the bills they covered.
If you do not have health insurance, then you may be able seek treatment from a physician with an agreement to pay your medical bills with the proceeds you recover from the at-fault party. In this case, the medical provider at issue may have you sign a personal injury lien. This is a contract between you and your provider establishing that any money obtained as part of your settlement or verdict will be used to pay your medical bills before going into your pocket.
How to Obtain Payment for Medical Bills After Suffering a Personal Injury in Chicago
The process for obtaining payment for medical expenses stemming from your personal injury can differ. First, you may acquire compensation by filing a third-party claim with the at-fault party’s insurance company. Unfortunately, insurers are often reluctant to pay third-party claimants what they deserve. The other party’s insurance contact you in the aftermath of your accident to try and entice a quick and cheap settlement agreement. Accordingly, it is important to consult with our Illinois personal injury lawyers before communicating with an insurance company. Our team can negotiate on your behalf and ensure that your interests are protected.
If you cannot obtain a fair settlement from the other party’s insurance company, then you may need to file a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault party to acquire the damages you are owed. There are several types of economic and non-economic damages that may be awarded in a personal injury case. However, for your case to succeed, you must establish certain key elements. First, you have to prove that your accident was caused by the defendant’s negligent conduct. Also, you must demonstrate that you sustained injuries because of the accident and incurred damages because of those injuries.
In certain instances, you may have to seek payment for your medical bills by filing a claim with your own insurance company. For instance, if you suffered a car accident where the at-fault driver committed a hit-and-run and cannot be identified, you may need to pursue compensation under your own uninsured motorist policy. During a free review of your case, our legal team will explain the full range of options available to you.
How Long Do You Have to Recover Medical Expenses in a Chicago Personal Injury Case?
The time window for filing a personal injury case in Chicago is governed by 735 I.L.C.S. 5/13-202. Usually, you will have two years from the date of your accident to seek compensation for the injuries you suffered. If you wait too long to file your lawsuit, then your case may be dismissed.
Despite potentially having two years to file your personal injury lawsuit, you should begin building your case right away. As time goes on, the evidence needed to support your claim can become hard to gather and preserve. The sooner you begin working on your case, the more efficiently you can collect the information needed to obtain payment from another party.
Evidence Used to Recover Payment for Medical Bills After an Injury in Chicago
After suffering a harmful accident in Chicago, you can hold the at-fault party responsible for the medical bills you incurred. However, you must be able to prove that the other party is to blame. There are several types of evidence that can be utilized to establish fault in your case.
Witness statements can be highly valuable when seeking to prove that a defendant is responsible for your accident. Witnesses can provide both written and oral testimony that explains how or why accidents happened. For instance, a witness may state that a slip and fall was caused by a slippery spot on the floor. Further, witness testimony may establish that a negligent driver caused a collision by running a red light. Accordingly, you should attempt to recover contact information from potential witnesses in the aftermath of your accident.
Furthermore, surveillance footage can be useful when establishing fault. Like witness testimony, footage from surveillance cameras can help explain the events that unfolded before, during, and after an accident. Support from our legal team can be highly useful when searching for relevant surveillance footage in your case.
Finally, evidence from the scene of your accident can also be used to prove that the defendant is to blame. Both photos from the scene and physical evidence from the scene may be used to identify contributing factors. Furthermore, such evidence can also be used to disprove the defendant’s alternative theory of fault.
If You Were Injured Because of Another Person’s Negligence in Chicago, Our Attorneys Can Help
Get support from our experienced Rockford, IL personal injury lawyers at the Rhatigan Law Offices by calling (312) 578-8502.
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