A recurring problem I see with people that have been in a car accident is trouble finding a medical provider to actually treat them.  A lot of doctors don’t treat “third party” cases.  That is, they won’t treat someone if another party caused the injuries.  Most doctors want to get paid immediately, and with a car accident case, payment usually occurs when the case has been settled.

The real troubling thing I’ve seen is that someone can go to a primary care physician for years, and once they’re in a car accident, the doctor refuses to treat them.  The situation is also complicated because, if you’ve been in a serious car accident, chances are you can’t work.  So, you can’t pay the bills out of pocket (and then wait to be reimbursed by the insurance company).  Basically, the doctor is abandoning them.  So, what can you do?

Look for a doctor that works on a “lien basis.”  This doctor will file a lien after treating you to protect their claim and they will get paid out of any settlement with the insurance company.