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What is a Lien on a Personal Injury Lawsuit?

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    A lien is a third party’s legally enforceable right to take funds they are due out of the settlement before the plaintiff can receive any of the proceeds. In Virginia, several laws affect when a lien can reduce a personal injury settlement, creating uncertainty as to how much a plaintiff will ultimately receive. If you are facing a lawsuit, a personal injury lawyer can provide a customized analysis based on your situation.

    How Liens Arise in Personal Injury Cases

    The most common liens are related to medical care. When another party pays for some or all of the treatment of the plaintiff’s injuries, that entity– often an insurance company, healthcare provider, or government agency– could potentially have a lien for repayment.

    Liens are created under state and federal laws, which can be contradictory. Under Virginia law, certain healthcare providers who provide medical services to personal injury victims have a lien on the patient’s claim against the negligent party. However, the lien is limited to a reasonable charge for the service. There are caps of $2,500 for a hospital or nursing home, $750 for each physician, nurse, physical therapist, or pharmacy, and $200 for each ambulance service.

    Unlike many other states, Virginia does not allow insurers to assert liens for medical payments. However, there are many cases where this law is trumped by federal law. That means a lien by your medical or auto insurer may be invalid under Commonwealth statute, but a lien by Medicare or Medicaid may still be enforceable under federal law.

    Liens can arise from other debts as well. For example, if there is a child support debt, that may need to be paid out before the victim receives any proceeds. Discuss your situation with a personal injury lawyer to find out what to expect in your case.

    How to Handle Personal Injury Liens

    It may seem unfair to have to pay back money related to an injury when you were the victim, but this policy is designed to prevent double-dipping. If your insurance policy pays your medical bills and then you are reimbursed by the at-fault party for those same bills, it would be a double recovery for you. Liens are meant to prevent this.

    If you tackle your personal injury case on your own, you may be unaware of liens, and they could end up eating away at your proceeds. If you work with an experienced personal injury lawyer, they will attempt to negotiate the amounts that lienholders will accept; this can result in a significantly higher settlement. Often lienholders will accept a lower guaranteed amount, enabling a settlement rather than risk getting nothing if the case goes to trial.

    Contact Us for a Free Consultation

    At Rutter Mills, our team is committed to helping our neighbors in Newport News, Virginia Beach, and the surrounding communities recover the maximum compensation. Call today to schedule a free consultation.

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    When you’ve been injured, you’ve got a lot at stake - but so does the insurance company. Walking into the court room with a serious lawyer makes all the difference. Watch our video to learn more about Rutter Mills. Your lawyer matters.

    “Nothing makes you feel more vulnerable than being hurt or ill. And nobody likes to ask for help. But when you need it most, we’re at our best. We give our clients the confidence and support they need to know they’ll be taken care of – that they’ll get the best outcome possible, even in the face of a very bad situation.”

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    What Our Clients Say

    "The staff at Rutter Mills worked for me from the first minute I was in their office. They called and emailed every week and kept better records than I did. I was injured and had to undergo two operations from the accident. The recovery period was long with many physical therapy sessions over the next year. The staff emailed me many times, asking if there was anything they could do to make me feel better during my recovery. During this time my attorney was active in filing the paperwork for court litigation, but was contacted by the other law firm that wished to discuss settling my case. Depositions were done and the final one was scheduled and I was present to complete that phase of the case. My attorney got a maximum award for me and I will be forever grateful for his and their staff's work and attention during my time of legal need. Rutter Mills will be my only call if I ever need legal representation in the future." ★★★★★ -Dan, Rutter Mills Client
    "The staff at Rutter Mills worked for me from the first minute I was in their office. They called and emailed every week and kept better records than I did. I was injured and had to undergo two operations from the accident. The recovery period was long with many physical therapy sessions over the next year. The staff emailed me many times, asking if there was anything they could do to make me feel better during my recovery. During this time my attorney was active in filing the paperwork for court litigation, but was contacted by the other law firm that wished to discuss settling my case. Depositions were done and the final one was scheduled and I was present to complete that phase of the case. My attorney got a maximum award for me and I will be forever grateful for his and their staff's work and attention during my time of legal need. Rutter Mills will be my only call if I ever need legal representation in the future." ★★★★★ -Dan, Rutter Mills Client