This article continues our series on post-accident medical treatment in Oklahoma. In the previous article, we explained how medical providers treat on a lien basis in Oklahoma.
In this article, we will discuss how treatment can take a while, and that therefore will prolong your legal case to obtain compensation.
The more serious the injuries, the longer the treatment process
If you are seriously injured, then you will need serious medical treatment. This could include surgery, and post-surgery rehabilitation. Following your post-surgery rehab could involve physical therapy.
All of these things will make you heal better and get back to being as healthy as your were before, or at least as close as possible. But this will take time. It could be weeks, months, or even the better part of a year or more. And this treatment will usually delay or prolong your case.
Why your case must be put on hold until treatment is complete
You usually cannot obtain a settlement before treatment has completed. The reason is that until treatment is complete, you may not know the full extent of the cost. How can we settle your case if we do not know how much you will owe in medical bills? We can’t.
Settling your case before completing treatment
Sometimes you can settle your case before completing treatment. This most frequently involves cases where the defendant is underinsured.
If the person responsible for the accident does not have enough insurance to pay for your damages, it is often to your advantage to obtain the maximum amount as soon as possible.
For example, if the defendant has only $25,000 in insurance coverage, and your medical treatment exceeds that much, you may immediately begin seeking to recover those policy limits, regardless of how long or how expensive your treatment ends up being. The defendant only has so much available insurance money, so you might as well get the maximum immediately, and then deal with your medical providers later.
In the next article, we will discuss how to pay for the treatment once your case has settled. If this article did not answer your questions, then feel free to send us an email.