A car accident and a traumatic injury can leave victims in need of occupational therapy to help them regain the ability to care for themselves and perform their job duties.
When a reckless driver is at fault, the driver’s car insurance company should cover all costs of occupational therapy for as long as necessary.
A skilled California attorney can also help victims seek out therapists who will accept delayed payments until a settlement is awarded.
The Importance of Occupational Therapy After an Accident
Victims in a major accident on the freeway can come away with broken bones, Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI), and serious neck and back injuries. Recovery may take more than just a simple visit to a California emergency room. It could change the way victims have to live their lives.
They may not be able to care for themselves. They may not be able to care for their families. They can also struggle to relearn simple daily tasks like brushing their teeth or operating machinery at work.
Occupational Therapy bridges this gap during recovery.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics defines what therapists do:
“Occupational therapists evaluate and treat people who have injuries, illnesses, or disabilities to help them with vocational, daily living, and other skills that promote independence.”
The American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) describes the types of training and development it offers to car accident victims:
- Restoring daily routine activities such as bathing and eating
- Providing home medical equipment such as shower chairs and medical bed trapeze bars
- Training for caregivers and family members
- Relearning skills needed to return to work or school
- Help with functional cognition such as memory and making plans
- Restoring balance
Occupational therapy can be expensive. Hopefully, the sessions are only needed for a short time, and a full recovery is possible.
Unfortunately, not all serious injuries heal fully. They can cause permanent disabilities. Car insurance companies may want to pay for an emergency room visit and a few weeks of therapy. But when patients will need a lifetime of care, a lawyer can take action to make sure they have the money they need to pay for physical therapy and cognitive therapy in the future.
Therapy Bills Arriving Before a Settlement Check
Even when car insurance companies don’t try to dispute your claims or blame the accident on you, they can delay settlement checks. It may take the insurer two or three months to get around to sending you compensation.
In the meantime, you can already have weeks of doctor bills and occupational therapy invoices in your mailbox.
Fortunately, Maison Law can often help injury victims put off payment on their medical care, without destroying their credit scores or going bankrupt. We are often able to direct victims to doctors and therapists who understand what car accident victims are going through.
They often agree to work under a medical lien, meaning they agree to accept delayed payment, at least until a settlement agreement is finally reached. This benefit helps patients focus on keeping their normal monthly bills paid, such as their car payments and their rent.
More To Know: California car crash victims sometimes get all of their medical bills paid by their health insurance providers. But this money must usually be paid back when patients receive an insurance settlement. Health insurers would either expect you to reimburse them or seek repayment from the car insurance company directly. This is done through a legal process called subrogation.
Winning Support for Car Accident Victims
Patients need urgent help with their expensive therapy bills, and they need complete coverage. Patients will often pay anywhere from $100 to $200 a session for occupational therapy. That might equate to a $50 or 60$ copay for those with health insurance, but that’s only if patients have met their deductible.
These expenses can be a giant obstacle for someone who is trying to focus on healing and can’t go into work to earn a paycheck.
It’s why a California car accident lawyer would be aggressive in securing benefits for these and other hardships:
- All hospital bills, ambulance fees, and surgical fees
- All therapy costs (e.g., physical therapy, occupational therapy, and cognitive therapy)
- Replacement of any job income and benefits victims have missed and will miss
- Travel costs going to therapy appointments and to see out-of-town specialists
- Support for the physical pain victims endure in accidents and during each day of rehab
- Money for car repairs or a new vehicle
Contact a California Car Accident Attorney
Maison Law wants you to focus on healing and not on the cost of hospital beds and therapy sessions.
We offer free case reviews to all injured car accident victims and their families. It’s a chance to figure out the best path to getting complete support as soon as possible.
There’s no obligation to chat with a real lawyer, but if you need us, you don’t have to worry about how you’ll pay an attorney. We work on behalf of clients with no upfront costs. We are only paid if your case is won. Then our fee comes out of a settlement check the car insurance company must write.
