Ledyard Law
On your side. By your side.

Client Resource Library - Hub

What is a lien?

LIENS AND SUBROGATION ARE A COMMON PART OF PERSONAL INJURY CASES.

A lien is a legal right to be paid back for money owed. In a personal injury case, a lien usually allows the insurance company that paid for your treatment to get their money back when you receive a settlement or award. For example, if someone is injured in a car accident and their health insurance pays for their hospital bills, the insurance company may have a lien that allows them to get some of the money when settlement happens.

When most people are injured in a car accident or at work, they cannot afford to pay all the bills upfront, and rely on an insurance company.

A lien or repayment right is established, and later, when the case is resolved, the lien is addressed. The injured person receives money, but before that, any valid lien is negotiated and paid.

WHY CAN LIENS BE GOOD FOR CLIENTS?


Liens can help injured people get the treatment or other representation they need, even when they do not have enough money to pay upfront. When a provider agrees to wait for payment, an injured person may not need to pay the full medical bill out of pocket at the time of treatment. This can be especially helpful when the person is unable to work because of their injuries.

Liens are especially useful for another reason. Personal injury attorneys may be able to negotiate certain medical liens or repayment claims for a lower amount. If a lienholder agrees to accept less, more of the settlement may remain available to the injured client.

For example, if a client owes $10,000 on a negotiable medical lien and the lienholder agrees to accept $6,000, the client may keep an additional $4,000 before accounting for other expenses and deductions.

Not every lien can be reduced, and the outcome depends on the type of lien, applicable law, and the circumstances of the case.

WHY SHOULD I USE MY OWN HEALTH INSURANCE?

Using your own health insurance can actually make a huge difference in your final recovery. Click the video to learn more.

WHY SHOULD WE REIMBURSE THE INSURANCE COMPANY?

David C.M. Ledyardliens, medical liens, hospital liens, subrogation, reimbursement, health insurance, medicare, settlement deductions, settlement, lien, medical lien, hospital lien, health insurance lien, insurance lien, medicare lien, medicaid lien, repayment claim, reimbursement claim, reimbursement rights, subrogation claim, subrogation rights, insurance reimbursement, medical reimbursement, lienholder, lien holder, lien holders, lien amount, lien balance, lien notice, lien reduction, lien negotiation, lien resolution, lien release, paying a lien, settlement lien, settlement liens, conditional payment, conditional payments, medicare repayment, medicaid repayment, health plan repayment, health plan recovery, insurance repayment, net settlement, take home settlement, take-home settlement, medical bill vs lien, bills versus liens, subro, subro claim, lien info, lein, leins, medical lein, hospital lein, subrogaton, subrogtion, subragation, reimbursment, reimbursment claim, what is a lien, what is a lien?, what are liens, what are liens?, why do i owe my health insurer, why do i owe my health insurer?, who gets paid from my settlement, who gets paid from my settlement?, MSP, M.S.P., BCRC, B.C.R.C., CMS recovery, ERISA reimbursement, PI lien, P.I. lien, med lien, MD liens, medical-liens, hospital-liens, health-insurance, settlement-deductions, medical-lien, hospital-lien, health-insurance-lien, insurance-lien, medicare-lien, medicaid-lien, repayment-claim, reimbursement-claim