Why Won’t My Doctor Treat Me?
When you have suffered injuries in an accident, you turn to physicians to get you back on your feet. After being released from the emergency room, it is typical to have a follow-up with your primary care provider or a specialist. Surprisingly, many doctors refuse to treat accident victims. This comes as a shock to many, and victims are at a loss on what to do next.
Why Doctors Refuse to See Accident Victims
Medical providers may not treat you for two reasons. The first is their (mistaken) belief you’re your health insurance won’t pay. The second reason is that they are concerned that they might have to give a deposition if the case goes into litigation. For a PCP, this won’t happen. For an orthopedic physician, this could happen, but most of them are aware that this is just part of being an orthopedic.
How Do I Get Medical Care?
If you have health insurance, look for another provider who will take your health insurance. They are out there. You just have to make some calls.
If you don’t have any health insurance, your attorney can send a “letter of protection” (LOP) to the provider. An LOP is in effect an “IOU” from your attorney to the doctor promising to pay the doctor from any settlement or judgment in return for the doctor treating you now. (Generally, your attorney won’t send such a letter unless he/she is pretty sure about obtaining a recovery in your case.) Your doctor holds off on billing for your care until you receive your settlement. This prevents any unpaid bills from being sent to collection.
If you have been injured in an accident, don’t be surprised when your doctor refuses to treat you. Instead, take action by contacting McGilberry and Shirer. They have decades of experience in helping victims of accidents get the medical care they need. Call (972) 392-1225 today!
