Injury settlement doesn't pay medical bills?

by Sinatra
(Winston-Salem, NC, USA)

The subject was hit by a vehicle while riding a bicycle in Winston-Salem, NC. He obtained an attorney. Almost a year from the date of the accident, he was contacted by the attorney and told that his settlement is $9,250.

The subject's medical bills are $8,000 and the attorney says he gets $2,312 of the total settlement amount. There is not enough left for the medical bills, and the subject obviously gets nothing for pain and suffering since after paying the medical bills he will still owe for medical.

How is this possible? And if the subject has an attorney for a personal injury case, what part does subject play in the settlement, other than signing the check?

Visitor Question:
Disclaimer: Information provided in our response is NOT formal legal advice. It is generic legal information based on the very limited information you provided. Under no circumstances should the information in our response, or anywhere else on this site be relied upon when making decisions about your case. You should always get a formal case review from a licensed attorney.

Comments for
Injury settlement doesn't pay medical bills?

Click here to add your own comments

Low Settlement
by: Law Lady

An attorney may not settle a case without getting the client's approval. It sounds as though, in this case, the attorney settled the case without discussing the matter with the client which is not appropriate.

Furthermore, if the medical bills are $8,000, it seems odd that the case would only settle for such a small amount. Also, the attorney should not receive his 33 1/3 fee and still leave the client in the lurch for medical expenses.

While medical bills are not a guarantee of settlement, the numbers still do not match up. The best result would be to avoid signing the settlement release because a case CANNOT settle unless and until this document is signed.

Secondly, it may be worth it to have someone else look at this claim because the conduct of the current attorney is questionable.

Best of luck!

Click here to add your own comments

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How?
Simply click here to return to Car Accident Questions


How Much Is Your Case Worth?

Find out NOW! Complete this form for a FREE case
review by an experienced attorney...




The accuracy of information provided on this site is not guaranteed. It is generic information for informal purposes only. It is NOT formal legal advice. Before relying on any information found in this site you should consult with a licensed attorney in your state. If you are currently represented by an attorney you should strictly abide by his/her advice and counsel.

Back to top

© 2012 | Injury-Settlement-Guide.com | All Rights Reserved Worldwide    Disclaimer | Privacy | Sitemap