It can come as a surprise – you file a claim regarding a personal injury, only to find out that your settlement gets taken by the government. Let’s take a look at how this occurs, and the steps you can take to prevent it.
Why Does the Government Take Personal Injury Settlements?
If you are on Medicaid, Medicare, or other public assistance when you are the victim of car crash, slip and fall, medical malpractice, or other personal injury, the government can attempt to put what lawyers call a “lien” on your recovery.
Not only that, but there are laws that require you to notify the government about your claim, depending on what government programs you participate in. If your lawyer doesn’t know about the rules and regulations pertaining to these programs, you could end up losing a good chunk, or even all your settlement to the government. But that doesn’t have to happen.
How to Prevent the Government From Taking Your Personal Injury Settlement
Hiller Comerford Injury & Disability Law made its name helping disabled Americans get disability benefits, and so we are very familiar with rules and regulations related to government programs such as Medicaid, Medicare, and public assistance.
When you come to us for your personal injury, we won’t just make a quick settlement, collect our fee, and leave you to fend off the government by yourself. We will advocate for you, within the law, to make sure that the government gets as little of your settlement as possible.
If you’ve been injured and you are on Medicaid, Medicare, or other public assistance, make sure you keep a copy of every medical bill you receive. Since you need to focus on your recovery, it might make sense to have friends or family keep these in a safe place for you.
But whatever you do, you need an attorney who can work to immediately protect you from government liens. Please do not delay! Give us a call today at 716-564-3288
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