Do I Have to Pay the Full Amount of My Hospital Bills After an Accident?
You do not have to pay the full amount of a hospital’s charges after an accident. Hospitals frequently inflate bills for treatments, services, or even basic supplies, and under Texas law—including the Civil Practice and Remedies Code and certain sections of the Property Code regarding hospital liens—you are only responsible for reasonable and medically necessary charges. Understanding this distinction is crucial to protect yourself from overpaying and to ensure that you are only held liable for what the law recognizes as fair.
Many hospital bills include charges for procedures or tests that may be unnecessary or excessive, such as multiple MRIs for minor injuries, redundant lab tests, or services that are not standard for your condition. Hospitals also often bill for items and services at rates well above what is customary in the local community. These inflated or unnecessary charges are disputable, and without an attorney, you may end up paying far more than you legally owe.
An experienced personal injury attorney can meticulously review your itemized hospital bills to identify charges that are unreasonable or unnecessary. They can negotiate with the hospital or billing department to reduce your total amount owed, sometimes drastically lowering your financial responsibility. Many times, hospitals have standard write-offs or adjustments that are not immediately applied to the bill, and attorneys can ensure these are properly accounted for, preventing you from overpaying.
Paying the full billed amount without professional review can be extremely costly and unnecessary. The bills you receive often reflect the hospital’s highest charge, not what is legally required or customary. By having an attorney examine your bills, you can avoid paying for treatments you didn’t need, excessive services, or inflated prices. This is particularly important in personal injury cases, where insurance settlements and medical liens can interact in complex ways.
