11
Nov
2019
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Who Pays for My Medical Care After a Sacramento Automobile Accident?
Who Pays for My Medical Care After a Sacramento Automobile Accident?
Posted by Injury Attorney in Bicycle Accident , Bus Accident , Car Accident , DUI Accident , Hit and Run , Motorcycle Accident , Pedestrian Accident , Truck Accident

Being involved in an automobile accident can be stressful, especially if you suffer injuries because of the accident. In addition to dealing with the pain and suffering caused by a physical injury, you also must deal with the cost of medical care. Depending on the severity of automobile accident injuries, the cost of medical treatment can be expensive. Who pays for medical care after an auto accident?

What Types of Medical Treatment are Common After an Automobile Accident?

An accident victim should seek medical care as soon as possible after a car accident to protect their health. It is also important to document injuries as soon as possible to protect the right to recover compensation for medical expenses, loss of income, and other damages caused by an automobile accident. Delays in seeking a doctor could be viewed negatively by the insurance provider. The insurance adjuster might argue that your lack of medical care immediately after the accident means that you were not injured in the accident or your injuries were not severe enough to require medical care.

Common types of medical treatment after an automobile accident include:

  • Emergency room visit
  • Hospitalization
  • Surgery
  • Doctor’s visits
  • Physical Therapy
  • Occupational Therapy
  • Pain Maintenance

You could have additional medical treatment based on your specific injuries. Victims with severe injuries or life-threatening injuries often require extensive medical treatment for an extended period.

Who Pays for My Medical Care?

After your accident, you are responsible for the payment of medical treatment for your injuries. In many cases, health insurance pays the cost of medical treatment after an auto accident. However, if you do not have health insurance, Medicaid or other government assistance may pay for medical care.

In some cases, individuals may need to work out an agreement with their medical providers regarding payment for services. If a medical provider knows that the injuries were the result of an automobile accident, the health care provider may agree to continue treatment for a promise of payment when the personal injury claim is settled. Some providers require patients to sign a medical lien ensuring payment from the personal injury proceeds. A Sacramento personal injury lawyer can often assist you in working out an agreement with your doctors regarding payment.

If another driver or party is responsible for causing the automobile accident, that party should be responsible for the payment of your medical expenses. However, the insurance company does not pay your medical providers directly. The cost of medical care is included in your personal injury claim. Therefore, you will not receive this money until your claim is settled.

Why Do I Have to Wait to Receive My Money for Medical Expenses?

The insurance company for the other driver is only liable for your medical care if its insured driver caused the accident. You cannot receive compensation for your medical care and other damages until you prove that the other driver caused the crash.

Also, you do not want to settle your claim before your medical treatment is completed and you know the full extent of your injuries. Settling your claim too early could result in the loss of thousands of dollars in compensation that you should receive based on your injuries and damages.

Seek Help from a Sacramento Automobile Accident Lawyer

Our experienced lawyers work with accident victims to recover compensation for their injuries, financial losses, and other damages. We can help you know when it is the right time to settle your claim and how much your car accident claim is worth.

Contact The Tiemann Law Firm at (916) 999-9000 or by visiting our website to schedule a free consultation with one of our California personal injury attorneys.

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11
Nov
2019
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Three Serious Slip and Fall Injuries That Can Cause Permanent Impairments
Three Serious Slip and Fall Injuries That Can Cause Permanent Impairments
Posted by Injury Attorney in Brain Injuries , Pedestrian Accident , Personal Injury , Slip and Fall , Slip and Fall Injury , Spinal Cord Injury

Many slip and fall accidents do not cause serious or life-altering injuries. Accident victims heal fully within a few weeks or months of the fall. While the injuries can result in medical bills and lost income, the person can return to their normal daily activities and life after their recovery. However, some slip and fall accident victims sustain injuries that cause permanent disabilities from a slip and fall accident. For those victims, life is never the same.

Three Slip and Fall Injuries That Can Change Your Life

Broken Bones

Some broken bones heal without causing permanent impairments. However, some fractures cause significant damage to joints or bones. These fractures often require surgery to repair the damage. Even with intensive physical therapy, the victim may not recover fully. In some cases, a broken bone from a slip and fall can cause a permanent impairment that makes it difficult or impossible for the person to return to normal activities, including work.

Traumatic Brain Injury

A fall can cause a concussion or other brain injury if the person’s head strikes the floor or other object during the fall. In some cases, a person can sustain a brain injury even without striking their head if the falling motion causes the head to jerk severely backward and forward or from side-to-side. The brain “bounces” around within the skull striking the skull in numerous places causing damage to the brain.

Depending on the severity of the head injury, a fall victim can sustain a traumatic brain injury (TBI).

TBI symptoms include:
  • Loss of consciousness, but it is not necessary to lose consciousness to suffer a TBI
  • Headaches
  • Blurry vision
  • Confusion
  • Vomiting or nausea
  • Dizziness
  • Disorientation
  • Ringing in the ears
  • Memory problems
  • Slurred speech
  • Changes in sleep Patterson
  • Changes in emotional behavior

The long-term consequences of a traumatic brain injury can be debilitating. Some potential long-term effects of a serious TBI include seizures, coma, minimally conscious state, chronic headaches, vertigo, blood vessel damage, paralysis, intellectual problems, communication problems, sensory problems, and emotional disorders. TBI can also increase a person’s risk of developing degenerative brain diseases, such as Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and dementia.

The financial, physical, and emotional damages caused by a TBI from a slip and fall are typically substantial for the victim and the family.

Back Injuries and Neck Injuries

Back injuries are also common in slip and fall accidents. While some back injuries may heal completely, a victim can sustain a severe back injury that may involve injury to the spinal cord. With spinal cord injuries, a victim could be partially or completely paralyzed. Back injuries can also result in painful and debilitating damage to the vertebrae (bones in the spine) and the discs between the vertebrae (i.e. ruptured discs).

Neck injuries are also common in slip and fall accidents. The fall can result in damage to the neck muscles and tendons. Severe cases of neck injury or whiplash can result in impaired mobility and chronic pain that interferes with normal daily activities and work.

Contact a Sacramento Slip and Fall Attorney for Help

A slip and fall accident can result in permanent impairments. Regardless of the severity of your slip and fall injury, you might be entitled to significant compensation for your medical expenses, loss of income, permanent impairments, scarring, pain, and suffering.

If you have been injured in a slip and fall accident, contact The Tiemann Law Firm by calling (916) 999-9000. Our Sacramento slip and fall attorneys can explain more about personal injury claims and how you can recover compensation from a negligent property owner during a free consultation.

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06
Nov
2019
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Three Common Neck Injuries from Three Common Accidents
Three Common Neck Injuries from Three Common Accidents
Posted by Injury Attorney in Accident Attorney , Car Accident , Motorcycle Accident , Pedestrian Accident , Personal Injury , Slip and Fall Injury , Spinal Cord Injury , Truck Accident , Workers Compensation

Neck injuries can cause severe and debilitating pain and limited range of motion. In many cases, a neck injury can be treated at home with pain medication, rest, and time. However, some neck injuries may require intensive medical treatment, including physical therapy and surgery. Some individuals may suffer permanent impairment or disability from a neck injury.

The Sacramento personal injury lawyers of The Tiemann Law Firm have extensive experiencing representing clients who have sustained a neck injury in an accident. If you are suffering from a neck injury, contact our law firm for a free consultation with one of our personal injury attorneys.

Three Common Types of Neck Injuries

There are many different types of neck injuries that you can sustain in an accident. Let’s discuss three of the common neck injuries our firm handles that result from accidents.

Herniated Cervical Discs

The cervical spine is comprised of the bones (vertebrae) and the discs between the bones in your neck. The discs between the vertebrae are filled with a gel-like fluid. A violent impact or movement can cause the outer covering of the disc to tear or rupture, which allows the gel inside to seep out. When this injury occurs in the neck, the injury is referred to as a herniated cervical disc.

Herniated cervical discs can cause a wide range of symptoms, including numbness, pain, tingling, and limited movement. The symptoms may be worse or debilitating if the person does not respond to treatment. Surgical intervention may be required in severe cases.

Whiplash

Whiplash is another common neck injury that can result from a variety of accidents. When the neck is “whipped” back and forth, such as in a rear-end car accident or fall, the resulting damage to the soft tissues in the neck can cause a variety of symptoms. Some individuals may experience neck stiffness, radiating pain, headaches, dizziness, back/shoulder pain, and tingling or burning. In severe cases, a person might experience problems with concentration, sleep disturbances, and limited range of motion.

In severe cases of whiplash, the neck may need to be immobilized with a neck collar, and the person may require physical therapy or surgery. Insurance companies treat whiplash as a “minor” injury that is often exaggerated by accident victims. It is best to seek legal counsel to protect your rights if you sustain any neck injuries.

Pinched or Damaged Nerves

The nerves in the neck can be damaged or “pinched” in an accident. The damaged to the nerves can result in shooting pains in the neck, shoulders, or arms. Many cases are temporary, and the damage heals with time and minor medical treatment. However, in severe cases, the trauma to the nerves may require physical therapy, medications, and additional time to heal.

Three Common Accidents That Cause Neck Injuries

Any accident could result in neck injuries. However, our law firm handles a variety of neck injury cases involving motor vehicle accidents, falls, and workplace accidents or repetitive stress injuries. It is important to consult a personal injury attorney near you if you sustain a neck injury in an accident or at work. A third party may be liable for your injury and the resulting damages and losses.

An attorney can review your case to determine if you are entitled to compensation under California’s personal injury laws. You might be entitled to receive compensation for your medical bills, loss of income, physical pain, emotional suffering, and other damages.

Call a Sacramento Personal Injury Lawyer for a Free Case Review

Contact The Tiemann Law Firm at (916) 999-9000 or by visiting our website to schedule a free consultation with one of our California personal injury lawyers.

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05
Nov
2019
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Steps to Take After a Car Accident with Injuries
Steps to Take After a Car Accident with Injuries
Posted by Injury Attorney in Bicycle Accident , Car Accident , DUI Accident , Hit and Run , Motorcycle Accident , Pedestrian Accident , Truck Accident

Some car accidents involve only property damages. However, what happens when you are involved in a car accident with injuries? Do you do anything different other than going to the doctor? Do you need to contact a California car accident attorney because you were injured in an automobile accident? At The Tiemann Law Firm, our legal team is here to answer your questions after a car accident. We explain your legal rights and the steps you need to take to protect your rights during a free consultation.

What Should You Do After a Car Accident with Injuries?

Depending on the severity of your injuries, you may or may not have been able to control what happened immediately after the accident. The steps below for a car accident with injuries assumes that you were conscious and able to move or at least converse with witnesses and others. If you were seriously injured, now is the time to contact a personal injury lawyer to discuss the steps you should take now to protect your right to full compensation for your injuries and damages.

Some key things to remember after a car accident with injuries are:

  • Call 911 to report the accident and request medical assistance. It is best to be checked by emergency responders and go to the hospital for immediate treatment if you sustained any serious injuries or you are unsure whether you are injured.
  • During the confusion after the wreck, you are likely to speak to several people, including the police officers and emergency responders. Answer questions and tell what happened, but be careful never to admit fault. Do not say phrases such as “I’m sorry” or “I didn’t mean to” when you are describing what occurred. You are likely dazed and confused after an accident. You cannot know for sure whether you have any liability for the cause of the crash until the accident is investigated fully, and you speak with a car accident attorney near you.
  • While you wait for the police to arrive, you can gather some evidence from the accident scene that can be useful. If you cannot move, you may want to ask a passenger or bystander for assistance. Ask someone to take a video or pictures of the accident scene with your phone. Also, try to obtain the names and contact information for eyewitnesses and bystanders.
  • As soon as you are home resting, contact our office for a free consultation with a California car accident attorney. A car accident with injuries can result in significant financial losses, in addition to your physical injuries and emotional suffering. You are entitled to receive compensation for your damages and losses when another driver is at fault for the cause of the crash. However, insurance companies can make the claims process difficult. Consulting with an attorney as soon as possible ensures that you understand your rights and know what you need to do to protect those rights.

Contact a California Car Accident Attorney for Help

If you are injured in a traffic accident, we want to help. The personal injury lawyers of The Tiemann Law Firm represent clients in Sacramento and throughout the surrounding areas. Call (916) 999-9000 to schedule your free consultation today.

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05
Nov
2019
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Three Things About a California Wrongful Death Claim You Did Not Know
Three Things About a California Wrongful Death Claim You Did Not Know
Posted by Injury Attorney in Accident Attorney , Bicycle Accident , Bus Accident , Car Accident , Defective Medical Product , Defective Product , Dog Bite , Hit and Run , Medical Malpractice , Motorcycle Accident , Nursing Home Abuse , Pedestrian Accident , Slip and Fall , Truck Accident , Wrongful Death

It is difficult to lose a loved one under any circumstances. When the death is caused by another party’s negligence or wrongdoing, California’s wrongful death laws provide a way for family members to seek justice for their loved one. A California wrongful death attorney can review your case to determine if you have a claim under the state’s wrongful death statutes. If you are interested in pursuing a wrongful death claim, it is important to know these three things about wrongful death claims in California.

Three Things You Should Know About Wrongful Death Cases in California

1.  You Have a Deadline for Filing a Wrongful Death Case

To protect your right to hold the person or party responsible for your loved one’s death accountable, you need to talk to an attorney now. Your time to file a wrongful death claim is restricted by law. In many cases, family members have two years from the date of death to file a wrongful death claim. However, that time may be shorter or longer, depending on the circumstances surrounding your family member’s death.

For example, if a government entity was involved, you may have just six months from the date of death to file a claim. On the other hand, cases involving medical malpractice often have a three-year statute of limitations for filing wrongful death claims.

It is always best to speak to a California wrongful death lawyer as soon as possible to avoid an issue with the statute of limitations for wrongful death claims.

2.  A Criminal Conviction is Not Required for a Wrongful Death Claim

Even though some cases may also involve a criminal charge against the person responsible for causing your family member’s death, a criminal charge is not necessary to file a wrongful death action. A wrongful death claim is a civil action that is separate and apart from any criminal charges that might or might not be filed related to the death. Therefore, you may have a valid civil action even though the state declines to pursue any criminal charges related to the death.

3.  A Survival Action May Also Be Filed

In addition to the wrongful death claim filed by family members, a separate action might be filed by your loved one’s estate seeking compensation for additional damages. A survival action is filed by a person’s estate seeking compensation for damages that the person would have been entitled to receive had the person lived. For example, a survival action may be filed to recover compensation for the medical expenses incurred in treating your loved one from the date of the injury through your loved one’s date of death.

The estate may also recover compensation for the pain and suffering your loved one endured because of the injury. In some cases, punitive damages might be awarded for certain acts that led to the person’s death.

Contact a California Wrongful Death Attorney for a Free Case Review

A monetary award is not going to ease your family’s suffering after losing a loved one. However, compensation from a wrongful death claim can provide the resources your family needs as you continue to deal with the consequences of losing a family member. A claim also forces the negligent party to take responsibility for actions that led to your family member’s death.

Contact The Tiemann Law Firm at (916) 999-9000 or by visiting our website to schedule a free consultation with one of our California wrongful death lawyers.

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