Knowing what to do after being injured in a car accident can be challenging. You have to figure out what to do about taking time off work, paying your medical bills and everyday expenses, and determining how to advance your physical and mental recovery. All of that can be incredibly stressful, leaving you feeling overwhelmed and uncertain about the future.
But don’t let yourself slip into despair. There are concrete steps you can take to stay afloat while your recovery advances. While some of that involves pursuing a personal injury lawsuit, part of it is focused on how to get by financially until your personal injury lawsuit resolves, which could be longer than you think. So, in the remainder of this post, let’s look at what you can do to cover your bills while you focus on building your personal injury claim.
Legal steps to take to stay afloat pending resolution of a personal injury lawsuit
It’s easy to slip into hopelessness in the aftermath of a car accident. But there are legal steps you can take to protect your financial stability while your personal injury lawsuit is pending. Here are some options that may be at your disposal:
- Agreeing to a hospital lien: Paying for exorbitant hospital bills can be extremely challenging after being hurt in an accident, especially since you’re probably unable to work and your income has decreased or completely dried up. By consenting to a hospital lien, you agree to pay your medical bills first once you recover compensation from your claim. In exchange, the hospital holds off on collecting medical debt from you. This can give you a little breathing room while you navigate your car accident personal injury claim, but a lien is a legally binding legal document. So, be sure you understand the terms of one of this agreement before agreeing to it.
- Turning to relevant insurance companies: If you have full coverage, then your insurance company might be willing to chip in to cover some of your immediate expenses. But even if you don’t have full coverage, you might be able to turn to the other driver’s insurance company to secure temporary relief. Although this can be a tall order, you shouldn’t overlook the possibility. You need to understand the policies in play, though, so that you know how to argue for that quick support that you need.
- Relying on your health insurance: Your health insurance should help cover a lot of your medical expenses. But you’ll want to make sure that the care you receive is covered, otherwise you’ll end up with exorbitant costs that’ll be difficult to pay off. So, be sure to understand your policy’s limitations.
- Considering a lawsuit loan: If you’re really in a bind to make ends meet, then you can consider a lawsuit loan. These loans are meant to give you a lifeline until your claim resolves. It’s important to note, though, that these loans often carry high interest rates, and you’ll have to pay one back even if your case doesn’t resolve the way you hoped. So, be very careful if you’re going to consider this option.
Build an aggressive personal injury case to protect your interests
Ultimately, you’ll want a strong personal injury case to position you for the financial recovery you need. This will require knowledge of the law and strong evidence. If you need help building your case, then now is the time to figure out what kind of support you need and to take action to protect your future.
