Legal Question in Personal Injury in California

Uninsured Passenger In Auto Accident

I was involved in an accident 3 weeks ago. I was the passenger in a van that rear-ended another car stopped on the freeway. I had major damage to wrist and thumb; thumb was dislocated & wrist was shattered. I had emergency surgery. I was just 3 days away from getting med. ins. thru my employer. Our driver had minimum ins coverage: 15/30. The med bills from the surgery are already more than $15K and I have to have more surgery. So far, the driver's ins co says they are only paying their limits and will not settle on the bodily injury stuff until the claim is closed. The dr say I need this next surgery asap because of the nerve damage but cannot do it because I am uninsured. I don't have the money to pay for the surgery. I know for a fact the driver doesn't have assets I can get to use for payment on the med bills.

I am scared about what's going to happen. If I don't have the surgery, the dr says i may have permanent nerve damage and never get full use of my hand. Am trying hard to support a pregnant wife and 2 kids, now only on wifes salary. We don't have extra $.

I am not sure what to do, if a lawyer can help, or what else we can do so that I can get these surgeries moving along.


Asked on 10/07/99, 6:35 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
John Hayes The John Hayes Law Offices

Re: Uninsured Passenger In Auto Accident

What you need an attorney to do for you immediately is file a lien with the hospital so that you can get the surgery done. What that means is that the hospital will get paid when you settle with the insurance company. An attorney can also work with all your health care providers to get your bills reduced so that they aren't coming after you. In addition to the driver's insurance company your own automobile insurance company may cover you in a situation such as this under your own underisured policy. If you need an attorney who can get these things done for you immediately please feel free to call me at 888-563-8529. I have three offices throughout the state of California so even though I might not be in your city I can still help you without causing you any inconvenience. In fact we can handle most of the case over the phone and email so that you can concentrate on getting better and taking care of your family. I can do this on a contingency fee basis so you do not have to pay me any money upfront. Basically I get paid when you get paid. Please give me a call at your earliest convenience so I can file the papers with the hospitatl and you can get in for surgery. The call and consultation are free. I look forward to hearing from you. If for some reason you get my answering machine please feel free to call me on my cell phone so we can get rolling asap. My cell number is 805-452-4730.

Hang in there.

John Hayes Esq.

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Answered on 10/13/99, 3:53 pm


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