What Is a Hospital Lien?

A hospital lien is a legal claim that helps ensure the hospital is paid for its services by responsible parties. A hospital lien comes into play when you receive a settlement in a personal injury case. After you have received your compensation, a hospital lien ensures that some of that settlement goes to the hospital to cover medical fees.

It can be wise to seek legal help when you receive a hospital lien, whether you were the person responsible for the accident or the person who received medical treatment after an accident. Our personal injury lawyers can help accident victims pursue the compensation they need to cover their medical costs.

Receiving Medical Treatment After an Accident

Accidents can happen to anyone. You could slip and fall while shopping or visiting a business. You could end up in a motor vehicle accident. Perhaps you were out walking and were hit by a motor vehicle. These accidents can involve severe pain and may lead to complex legal cases.

It’s essential to be aware of what could happen after an accident. You will likely need some form of medical treatment, even if it’s only for a doctor to evaluate you and ensure you are okay. You may need an ambulance to take you to a hospital for emergency medical treatment.

The costs of these services can add up quickly, but who exactly foots the bill? That’s where a hospital lien comes in.

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Understanding a Hospital Lien and Who Receives Payment Via a Hospital Lien

Generally, the person or group responsible for your injuries should help cover treatment expenses after an accident. For example, let’s say you were in a car accident, and the other driver was responsible for the crash. In this situation, you may receive compensation from the responsible driver.

If you get compensation either through a lawsuit or settlement, certain medical groups can receive a portion of that money to help cover their service costs. The following three groups may receive money from your payout via a hospital lien:

• Ambulance services
• Health care providers
• Hospitals

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Information Included in a Hospital Lien

Hospitals, ambulance services, or providers must send out a hospital lien notice before insurance or settlement payouts. In Louisiana, a hospital lien notice will likely include the following components:

• The person who was injured and their address
• The name of the ambulance service, health care provider, or hospital that rendered services to the injured person
• The location of the ambulance service, health care provider, or hospital

Typically, the hospital or other group expecting payment must also provide an itemized statement of the charges. They should send this cost breakdown to anyone who receives the original notice that requests it. In Louisiana, they have thirty days to provide this information, per RS Art. 4755.

The hospital, provider, or ambulance service must carefully follow the guidelines of Louisiana law when requesting payment for their services via a hospital lien. If they don’t, they may not receive the correct payment from the right group for the care they gave.

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Who Receives a Hospital Lien Notice?

You may receive a hospital lien notice if you are one of the following parties involved in the incident:

• The person who was injured and received medical services for injuries after the accident. If the injured person has an attorney, the attorney may also receive a copy of the hospital lien notice.
• The person or group that is likely responsible for the injured person’s injuries.
• The insurance company providing liability insurance to the liable person or group.
• Any insurance company responsible for giving the person who was injured compensation.

A hospital lien notice could be sent by the hospital, provider, or ambulance service directly or by their attorney.

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Taking Legal Action After Receiving a Hospital Lien

If you receive a hospital lien, it can be beneficial to contact an experienced lawyer who can help you. A lawyer can assist you with your personal injury case and explain the components of the hospital lien note you received. They’ll also be able to determine which damages you can recover beyond your medical expenses.

The lawyer you work with should be familiar with Louisiana law and how the hospital lien will fit into your compensation or settlement amount.

Begin Your Case Today with a Free Consultation

Wherever you are in your case, seeking legal help can alleviate some of the stress the legal process can create. If you have questions about a hospital lien you received, we are ready to answer. You can contact the legal team at Laborde Earles to get started with your case. We can review your case for free and go over what options you have available to you.

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