What to do if I was injured in a car accident 2 years ago and the case was settled but now I have just received a medical bill related to my injuries?
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What to do if I was injured in a car accident 2 years ago and the case was settled but now I have just received a medical bill related to my injuries?
It was the other drivers fault and subsequently his insurance paid all bills related to the accident. I had an attorney who submitted all bills on my behalf. The case was settled and closed about 21 months ago. However, one medical office held a bill and just recently sent it to me related to that accident. Am I responsible for this bill? Is there some sort of statute of limitations on how long a company has to send an individual a first bill after an incident/ office visit?
Asked on June 19, 2015 under Personal Injury, Mississippi
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 8 years ago | Contributor
1) Yes, you are responsible for this bill--the patient is responsible for all medical costs or bills, even if there may be, in some cases, another party which owes him/her reimbursement. (In this case, if the case was already settled, it is very unlikely that the at-fault driver or their insurer would have to pay you; the settlement almost always--unless it was extraordinarily badly written--fully settles the matter and precludes seeking additional money later.)
2) In your state. it appears that the medical office could, if necessary (i.e. unpaid) sue you for the debt for up to three years after treatment; therefore, based on what you write, they would seem to still be time to bill you for this debt and, if necessary, enforce it by a lawsuit.
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