For three decades now, I have handled heavy duty litigation in the arena of personal injury including auto accident cases, slip and fall cases, dog bites and many others. Litigation is my mainstay. I have been a lawyer on both sides of the street including defense work and plaintiff work. I started off as an insurance adjuster handling all personal lines of insurance claims including, but not limited to auto claims and later, commercial general liability claims involving toxic tort litigation. I entered the legal profession with a heavy background in how insurance companies work and how they think. I use this experience much to my client’s advantage when litigating and negotiating plaintiff injury cases. I also take a creative approach to my cases which yields great results.
How does a settlement work in personal injury?
A settlement is typically split three ways. The client, the lawyer and the medical providers. Yes, the medical providers are entitled to get their money back for services rendered in your treatment. The medical providers apply what is called a medical lien that attaches to the case and at the close of the case, if there is a recovery, they want to be paid from the proceeds of the settlement. If the health insurance company paid the medical on your behalf for your injuries, then the insurance wants their money back and extract it from the settlement. There is no real way around this situation, but there is hope. Liens are negotiated with the health providers and insurance providers and in most instances, I am able to get them to reduce their liens which puts more money in the pockets of my clients.
If my injures seem minor, when should I seek out treatment or should I even get medical treatment?
You will need a medical evaluation and treatment as fast as possible. Delays in treatment weaken your case and the longer the delay, the weaker your case becomes. If you are injured, you need treatment and there may be additional injuries you are unaware of that manifest themselves at a later time and become part of your case.
Call or text Richard L. Elsliger at 224-578-4144 for a free consultation to discuss your case.