Legal Question in Personal Injury in Texas
We were in an auto accident several months ago and had to get medical care. We got a check in the mail for less than medical bills were. We were about to lose our house and have our electricty cut off because we were not able to work for a few weeks. A lawyer called me the other day and told me that if I did not pay the bills in five days he was going to have me arrested for insurance fraud. I had planned to make payments to the Dr. Is this something I can go to jail for?
4 Answers from Attorneys
call us for free consultation...no lawyer should make such a call...and did he put it in writng?
It is unclear exactly what is going on. I do understand that being involved in an accident can turn your life upside and that the bills keep coming. I'm not sure why you would be charged with insurance fraud. If the accident was not your fault, then you are entitled to past and future medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering and disfigurement. I would be glad to speak with you about this. 512-472-8318
I doubt that was a lawyer calling you. Get the name and number of whomever called you and record the information in a journal. Record every such encounter. Also, you should have a lawyer review your case (almost all injury attorneys--myself included will review your case with you for free.) Something is very fishy.
I am assuming you went to a doctor and promised to pay him out of the settlment proceeds in exchange for receiving medical care. The District Attorney's office may view this as being better handled as a civil matter rather than as a crime and so there's a pretty good chance that criminal charges will not be accepted.
If you could make some payment, even a very small one, towards the debt and communicate with the doctor and work out a payment schedule, that might prevent further action from being taken against you.