Being injured in an accident that was no fault of your own can be one of the most traumatic experiences of a person’s life. If you suffered severe injuries which require surgery as a result, these additional medical costs could cause additional concerns in an already stressful situation.
While the costs associated with major medical operations can be burdensome, the Duluth personal injury attorneys at Brauns Law Accident Injury Lawyers, PC, can help you document and pursue the maximum compensation for the medical treatment your physician has recommended.
Our Georgia injury attorneys have extensive experience helping those who were injured due to another person’s negligence get financial relief. Contact us right away to set up a free, initial consultation.
More Serious Injuries Can Mean More Significant Compensation
While some injuries are minor and don’t require extensive treatment, other injuries may require surgery. If you have been injured and your doctor recommends that you undergo surgery, you could be eligible for compensation, given that surgical procedures tend to be costly and complex. Generally speaking, the more severe your injuries and the more in-depth your treatment is, the more compensation you could demand. However, discussing the details of your claim with a seasoned attorney is imperative to pursuing fair compensation for your injuries.
Still, just because your doctor has recommended surgery doesn’t necessarily mean that your claim will result in substantial compensation. For example, suppose you only require a single non-invasive surgery to repair a minor injury. In that case, you probably won’t incur the same level of expense as someone who requires multiple complicated surgeries and ongoing treatment after those surgeries.
It’s also important to remember that just because surgery might increase the amount of compensation you could pursue, that doesn’t mean you should have a procedure. If you decide to get surgery, but your treating physician has not recommended it, then you might not be able to recover compensation for the cost of the operation. In short, you could be left with thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket expenses, further adding to the financial strain you’re already facing.
It’s a good idea to seek professional opinions from multiple healthcare providers before you decide on a course of treatment. There may be other, less expensive treatment alternatives to surgery that your doctor recommends as well.
Will the Insurance Company Agree to a Bigger Settlement?
Insurance companies are for-profit entities. While their purpose is to provide coverage to claimants who have suffered losses due to unforeseen events, their broader goal is to make money and keep their shareholders happy.
If your treating doctor recommends surgery, the insurance company may or may not offer you a larger settlement. They might resist or allege that the doctor is only recommending surgery for their own financial gain. In general, insurance adjusters are wary of immediately offering a generous settlement.
In fact, one tactic that insurance adjusters regularly use to minimize their losses is to offer a quick, lowball settlement very soon after negotiations begin. While it can be tempting to accept such an offer because the lump sum would be immediately available for you to put toward medical costs, any initial offers the insurance company makes will most likely be less than you need and deserve.
If you accept the offer, you will forfeit your ability to pursue additional compensation should you need it, and you might end up having to cover some medical costs yourself.
If you can present the insurance company with extensive evidence of your diagnosis and healthcare needs using proof like medical records and doctor’s statements, you will dramatically increase your chances of getting a fair settlement. Insurance companies are more likely to make a reasonable offer if you make a strong case.
Will I Receive My Settlement Before My Operation?
Most insurance companies are unwilling or reluctant to pay for major surgeries and other expensive treatments before the procedure occurs. This is because sometimes claimants who have been recommended for surgery don’t ultimately go through with the operation.
While obtaining a settlement before your operation may be challenging, that doesn’t mean you have to sink into medical debt. Our lawyers will work tirelessly to help you find financial support and solutions so you can obtain the medical care you need.
If you were injured in a car accident, you could potentially turn to your health insurance policy or other personal insurance policies, such as auto coverage. We will also work with your medical provider to defer payment for your procedure until you have received your settlement.
What if the Insurance Company Won’t Make Me an Offer?
Typically, insurance companies will offer you a settlement if your treating physician recommends surgery because they understand that refusing to settle your claim could lead you to take legal action against them. The vast majority of personal injury claims settle before they ever reach the trial stage because the legal process can be long and costly to both parties involved.
However, depending on the circumstances of your case, it’s always possible that the insurance company will refuse to settle or fail to make a fair offer. For example, if you were injured in a car accident but the other driver’s insurance company refuses to accept liability, your case could go to court. When it is not totally clear who is liable for an accident, the insurance company may believe it is worth it to litigate a case.
The best way to avoid expensive litigation is to hire an experienced Georgia personal injury attorney who has the tools to gather and preserve all the necessary evidence to prove your claim. If your attorney can make a strong case for compensation to the insurance company, they are much more likely to settle.
Contact Brauns Law Accident Injury Lawyers, PC
No matter what kind of injury you are dealing with, our Gwinnett County injury lawyers at Brauns Law Accident Injury Lawyers, PC, have the resources to help you pursue the compensation you deserve.
We understand how traumatizing and stressful it can be to deal with a serious injury, especially if the treatment includes surgery and recovery.
If you didn’t cause the accident, then you should not be responsible for the expenses associated with treating your injuries. Our team of dedicated Georgia legal professionals is committed to helping you hold the liable party accountable for their negligence through a personal injury claim.
