I last wrote on the medical bills that my clients are burdened with.  These often become the central point of contention in our cases, and it’s unnerving to see these start piling up.  One of the hardest challenges I face is helping my client’s confront the rising costs they will see after an automobile accident.

If you’ve been injured in a car wreck, there is a strong chance you will incur bills that you cannot afford.  The good news is that the other driver should pay.  The bad news, is that you may have to wait months, or even years before you see a reimbursement check.  In the meantime, some of the bills are sent to collections, and your credit may be detrimentally impacted.

The best thing you can do for these bills is to speak directly with the lien holder, or collection agency, and let them know that you are attempting to collect from the liable party.  You may then request that the lien be held in abeyance while you attempt to collect.  They are often amenable to this type of request, but you should anticipate frequent follow-ups from them asking about the status of your claim.

If you hire an attorney, it will be important that you look at your contract to determine who will be taking on the responsibility of paying your debts.  There are many contracts which state that the client will be responsible for paying all of their bills.  However, you may also authorize your attorney to pay justly incurred bills associated with your claim.  If this is the case, then the attorney will likely receive all future communication with the lien holders.  You should inquire with your attorney to make sure that he or she is doing everything in their power to negotiate down your bills, and keep the lien from impacting your credit.

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