| If you are injured in a car accident, you need | | | | If you do not get the treatment you need, you |
| medical treatment. But what if you have no health | | | | are likely to continue to suffer. You may adapt to |
| insurance? If you were taken by ambulance to an | | | | your injury and get used to it, but you are still |
| emergency room, chances are that you have | | | | injured. Also - and this is important - if you do not |
| already had some initial treatment. But what do | | | | get treatment you are not "mitigating your |
| you do after leaving the ER? | | | | damages." |
| The answer is simple: Find a personal injury | | | | What is "Mitigating My Damages" And Why Is It |
| attorney who can help you get treatment | | | | Important? |
| through a medical lien. | | | | Imagine that you are in a car accident and you |
| What Is a Medical Lien? | | | | receive a cut on your arm. You decide not to see |
| A medical lien is basically a promise that you | | | | a doctor and decide not to put any antibiotics on. |
| attorney makes to a treating physician that the | | | | As a result, the arm becomes infected and has to |
| doctor will be paid if and when you recover from | | | | be amputated. If you sue the driver who caused |
| the person who caused the accident. This means | | | | the accident, he or she will likely not be liable for |
| there is some risk for the doctor or chiropractor - | | | | the amputate ed arm because you could have |
| because if you do not recover, they do not get | | | | stopped the infection but you did not minimize - |
| paid. This means that there is no risk to you. If | | | | or mitigate - your damages. So mitigating your |
| you do not recover, you (typically) owe nothing. | | | | damages really means limiting the damages that |
| How Do I Get a Doctor To Treat Me On a | | | | you are suffering. And it is important because |
| Medical Lien? | | | | there is no way to recover for damages that you |
| Any good personal injury attorney will either have | | | | could have prevented but chose not to. |
| a doctor/chiropractor he can refer you to, or will | | | | Do I Owe Money For Treatment If I Do Not |
| find someone. In most cases, doctors are not | | | | Recover From The Other Driver? |
| willing to treat on a lien unless you have an | | | | In most cases, you will owe nothing if you do not |
| attorney. This is not because they do not trust | | | | recover. The normal arrangement is that neither |
| you - it is because they know where to find the | | | | the attorney nor the doctor recovers unless you |
| attorney if they need to make sure they get | | | | recover. |
| paid. If the doctor and the attorney have a good | | | | What Kinds of Treatment Are Available If I Am |
| relationship, it is almost automatic that you will get | | | | Treating On A Lien? |
| the treatment you need. | | | | Almost any kind. Treatments can range from |
| Why Do I Need Medical Treatment? | | | | initial consultations all the way through |
| The answer should be pretty obvious: If you are | | | | reconstructive surgery that would normally cost |
| injured, you need to see a doctor. Some injuries | | | | hundreds of thousands of dollars. |
| will heal themselves over time, but most will not. | | | | |