Dr. Lewkovich writes another brilliant analysis on how to work with patients that simply don’t want any PI attorney. They will settle themselves.
There are two major reasons why patients want to do their own case:
1) It’s a MISTY case. The car damage is so small no attorney will take the case.
2) "I know how to settle this case, I’ve done it before."
Number one makes sense. You can help those patients, but they are cash patients or have great med pay.
Number two creates a danger for your clinic.
Clearly, a reliable attorney is your best bet for reducing the anxiety of whether your office will get paid or not. Once the patient has the settlement money – they may decide to keep all of it or ‘forget’ to pay you. We call this the ‘gypsy’ patient.
Not good.
On the other hand, Lewkovich offers the following 8-point contract for those special patients.
- Among those points: if the patient settles for below the medical bills, the patient is still liable for payment in full.
- Upon settlement you will get one check. That check must pay all your medical fees first. The patient keeps the rest.
We still
STRONGLY recommend that any patient who does not have a reliable PI attorney specialist, pay your fees up front.
