Hospital care frequently steps in to help individuals who are suffering from serious issues like severe car accidents, gunshots, stab wounds and other traumatic problems. However, a new study identified that up to 7 out of 10 adult trauma patients who did not have insurance were facing the serious risk of financial catastrophe. Anyone in America faces the risk of being critically injured in an accident, and most often people don’t realize the impacts of an accident until it’s too late. 

 

The study, reported in The Annals of Surgery, is the first time that Census Bureau data and U.S. trauma admissions data were analyzed together to determine the risks of major health expenses. More than 117,000 hospital admissions were analyzed for uninsured people between ages 18 and 64 who were admitted to hospitals between 2007 and 2011. This was prior to the implementation of the ACA.

 

Approximately half of those patients had an estimated annual income less than $41,000. However, the hospital charges for half of those people totaled a minimum of $27,000. One unforeseen major injury such as a catastrophic car accident could financially cripple an individual who is not appropriately prepared.

 

Those people may be facing bankruptcy risks as well. It is important to identify that someone else has caused the accident in which you sustained serious injuries. You may be eligible to recover compensation by consulting with an experienced attorney sooner rather than later. The medical expenses associated with treating an injury can pile up quickly and it is important to attend all routine care visits to increase your chances of successful recovery after a serious injury. 

 

Avoiding appointments because you can no longer afford the payments could put you at greater risk of an infection or other medical complications. If you suspect that your finances will be significantly impacted by a serious car accident, you need to identify an attorney sooner rather than later to protect yourself. 

If your life has been turned upside down after a serious accident, you need to collect all your medical bills and determine whether or not it makes sense to hire a personal injury lawyer. One serious injury can forever change your life.