Dealing With Medical Expenses After a Car Wreck? Make Sure to Document Them

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Getting Better Should Be YourĀ Priority ā€” But Taking Care of Your Finances Is Also Important!Ā 

After youā€™ve been injured in a car accident, your top concern is getting the care you need to treat your injuries. Sometimes, that means immediate surgery, follow-upĀ appointments, and ongoing physical therapy.Ā Other times, pain starts to set inĀ days or even weeks after a crash. At this point youĀ mayĀ see several different doctors to get a definitive diagnosis, and then you need treatment.Ā 

Every personā€™s journey after a collision is unique. But if your injuries were caused by another driverā€™s recklessness behind the wheel, you shouldnā€™t be responsible for carrying the financial burden of your medical treatment ā€” and you shouldnā€™t trust an insurance company toĀ makeĀ you a fair offer for compensation.Ā 

We have written before aboutĀ who paysĀ forĀ medical bills after a car accident,Ā but calculating medical expenses related to a carĀ crashĀ is complex, and having an accurate idea of your total medicalĀ costs isĀ crucial after a wreck. For example, knowing your medical costs will help you decide:Ā 

  • How much your claim is worthĀ 
  • Whether an offer from the insurance company addresses the true costs of your injuryĀ 
  • Whether you should hire a personal injury attorney to help you with your claimĀ 

Below, weā€™ll discuss some of the important reasons to keep careful track of your medical bills after a car crash. Weā€™ll also talk aboutĀ certain types of medical expenses people tendĀ to leave out of their recordsĀ and the best way to collect and store your healthcare bills.Ā 

The HospitalĀ and Insurance Company HaveĀ My Records ā€” Why Should I Keep Track of Them?Ā 

If youā€™veĀ ever had to dispute a medical charge, you may understandĀ how complicated and bureaucratic medical billing systems can be.Ā Lots ofĀ issuesĀ can arise during the billing and record-keepingĀ processes. For example:Ā 

  • Sometimes, doctors at the hospital are contracted out,Ā andĀ theyĀ bill separately from the hospitalā€™s record-keeping system.Ā 
  • If you get treatment at a facility outside your network,Ā the facility may not billĀ your insuranceĀ at all.Ā 
  • In Texas,Ā healthcare entitiesĀ often bill the at-fault partyā€™s insurance after a car wreck instead of the victimā€™s.Ā 
  • Hospitals may attach liens to insuranceĀ claims or settlements; sometimesĀ these liensĀ need to be paid long after treatment has been received.Ā 

Ā Unfortunately for car accident victims, this means that they need to serve asĀ their own advocatesĀ whileĀ alsoĀ juggling their physical and mental recovery, the financial complications of taking time off work, and more.Ā 

If a healthcare bill doesnā€™t make it into the official records that the insurance company is looking at, they wonā€™t factor it in to your settlement offer, and that means you wonā€™t get compensated fairly. This is one of the most important reasons to keep careful track ofĀ allĀ the expenses related to your car accident.Ā 

Common Types of Medical Expenses That People Forget About or IgnoreĀ 

For many people, keeping track of their major medical expenses is simple. They keep bills and receipts for things like:Ā 

  • SurgeriesĀ 
  • Emergency room visitsĀ 
  • DoctorĀ or specialistĀ visitsĀ 

However, there are often manyĀ other costs associated with aĀ recovery after a car wreck. Below, weā€™ve outlined some of theĀ commonĀ expenses people tend to forget about.Ā 

  • PrescriptionsĀ andĀ Over-the-Counter MedicationsĀ or DevicesĀ 

Paying for prescriptions may seem like an obvious expense to keep track of, but many people forget to document theĀ over-the-counter (OTC) medications or devices that they buy and useĀ to treat their car accident injuries. Painkillers, braces, wound dressings, and many other purchases may not have beenĀ necessary if you hadnā€™tĀ beenĀ injured, and you should keep track of those expenses, too.Ā 

  • Ā Ambulance RidesĀ andĀ Other Transportation or Travel CostsĀ 

Many people will keep track ofĀ costs associated with anĀ ambulance rideĀ and any other medical travel, but they forget to document other transportation costs associated with their diagnosis and treatment.Ā For example, if youĀ drive to and from doctor visits or the emergency room,Ā orĀ if youĀ or a loved one has toĀ stay in a hotelĀ or hospitalĀ duringĀ your treatment, those are costs you should definitely keep track of since they are related to your injuries.Ā 

  • Physical TherapyĀ andĀ In-Home Care or In-Home ModificationsĀ 

Physical therapy can take many forms. You may go to a facility and receive a bill for physical therapy servicesĀ or for getting certain types of injections,Ā which most people remember to document. However,Ā many people forget toĀ keep track of other treatmentsĀ such as massage, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) therapy, chiropractor visits, or in-home care. Similarly, if you need to make modifications to your homeĀ or purchase special equipment as part of your treatment, those costs should be factored into the expenses associated with your injuries.Ā 

  • Doctor VisitsĀ andĀ Medical Testing ProceduresĀ 

While most peopleĀ keep track of their doctor visits and specialist visits, diagnostic testing may be billed separately.Ā You should record anyĀ costs for blood tests, MRI or CT scans,Ā X-rays,Ā and any otherĀ tools your healthcare providers use to diagnose your injuries.Ā 

  • Physical TreatmentĀ andĀ Mental Health TreatmentĀ 

In addition to physical injuries, carĀ crashes canĀ alsoĀ cause deep and long-lasting mental trauma. You should track anyĀ costs associated with visits to psychologists, psychiatrists, or other mental health professionalsĀ that result from your accident and keep them inĀ the records related to your injury.Ā 

In addition to healthcare expenses, many other costsĀ can arise after a car accident-relatedĀ injury. For example, time you take offĀ work, lost wages,Ā car repairs,Ā canceled vacations or travel plans, and many other expenses may start toĀ pile up.Ā Often,Ā these ā€œlittleā€ costs (in comparison to the massive medical expenses)Ā can add up very quicklyĀ after a crashĀ ā€”Ā especially if your injury persists forĀ a long time or results in permanent disability.Ā 

And, ultimately, your injury is about more than just the cost of medical treatment. Car accidents can have a lasting impact on your physical, mental, and financial well-being, which is why itā€™sĀ so important to keep careful track of how a vehicle crash has affected your life.Ā 

How to Keep Track of Expenses Related to Your Car AccidentĀ 

Each person has their own way of staying organized. Some people have a planner while others use their smartphone. SomeĀ people have a calendar, and still othersĀ prefer to use memory aids like Post-It notes.Ā 

While some of these differences come down to preference, not every method is created equal when it comes to documenting your expenses related to a car wreck. Below are some tips to help you stay organized,Ā which isĀ especiallyĀ importantĀ since many carĀ accident claims becomeĀ personal injury cases when the insurance company refuses toĀ offer the victim aĀ fair settlement.Ā 

  • KeepĀ a JournalĀ 

Keeping a journalĀ related to your accidentĀ may seem like a nuisanceĀ when you just want things to go back to normal, but it is one of the best ways to stay organized with as little effort as possible while you focus on healing and recovery. Each time you have an appointment, attend a physical therapy session, or make a purchase related to your injuries, makeĀ a note and slip the bill andĀ receipt in your journal. You can also take notes about how you feel, how much pain you are experiencing, what symptoms you were having, etc. These notes will prove invaluable as you look back on the history of your treatment and the costs associated with your injury.Ā 

  • Take Lots of PhotographsĀ 

Hopefully you took lots of photographsĀ immediately after the car accidentĀ if you were able. But you should also take photographs of your injuries,Ā your medical paperwork, and anything elseĀ associated with your crash. They can help jog your memory later, andĀ they could provideĀ invaluable evidence if you decide to pursue a personal injury case.Ā 

  • Keep Copies of Your Bills and ReceiptsĀ 

For allĀ the items mentioned above, make sure to keep copies of your bills and receipts. From emergency room visitsĀ and car repair bills to pharmacy pick-ups and gasĀ station receipts, you shouldĀ keep documentation for anyĀ financial transactions associated with your injury.Ā 

  • Collect Other DocumentationĀ 

In addition to your medical expenses, you may have other documentation associatedĀ with your injuries. Test results, diagnostic images, etc. should be compiledĀ and keptĀ together. You should also keep police reports, contact information for the other drivers and witnesses, security footage from the scene of the crash, andĀ any other documents and items related toĀ your crash.Ā Store this documentation along with your medical recordsĀ 

  • Keep Everything in One PlaceĀ 

When youā€™re seeing several different doctors, getting your car repaired,Ā dealing withĀ calls from theĀ insurance company, communicating with your employer, and still trying to stay on top of your day-to-day life in a thousand other ways, itā€™s easy for things like receipts to get lost in the shuffle. Get a folder or binder, put it somewhere convenient, and make sure to put anything related to your car accident or subsequent medical treatment in the folder right awayĀ so nothing slips through the cracks.Ā 

Struggling After a CarĀ Wreck?Ā Get in TouchĀ WithĀ Crosley Law FirmĀ 

If youā€™re not sure how youā€™llĀ pay for your medical care after a car accident, youā€™ve received a lower settlement offer than you expected, or you simply want to discuss what your options are after beingĀ injured in a crash, you should contact theĀ experienced personal injury attorneysĀ at Crosley Law Firm.

We offer a free consultation so we can listen to the details of your story and give you candid advice about what your best course of action is moving forward. And if we can take on your case, you donā€™t have to pay us a dime unless we get you a settlement or win your case in the courtroom.

Best of all, our professional staff can acquire your medical records, compile them, and keep track of all the details related to your case so you can simply focus on getting better.

Our attorneys have years of experience handling car accident cases, and weā€™re here to help you. Call our office atĀ 210-LAW-3000 (210-529-3000), orĀ fill out ourĀ brief onlineĀ contactĀ formĀ and weā€™ll get back to you right away.Ā 

The contentā€Æprovided hereĀ isā€Æfor informational purposes onlyĀ and should not be construed as legal advice on any subject.Ā