If you have been injured in Florida, one of the biggest challenges after a settlement is dealing with medical bills. Providers often charge far more than insurance companies would pay, and without negotiation, these charges can eat up most of your settlement. At Abrahamson & Uiterwyk, we see this all the time and work hard to make sure our clients keep as much of their recovery as possible.

Key Takeaways

  • Lawyers can often reduce medical bills by 20 to 80 percent.
  • Negotiations usually happen after settlement but may start earlier in difficult cases.
  • The process can take days, weeks, or even months depending on the providers involved.
  • Real-world examples show reductions of hundreds of thousands of dollars.
  • Having an attorney matters because providers are far more willing to negotiate with a law firm than with an individual.

How Much Can Lawyers Reduce Medical Bills?

Lawyers routinely negotiate medical bills, and reductions can be dramatic. At Abrahamson & Uiterwyk, we have seen:

  • A chiropractor bill $15,000 and ultimately accept $5,000 to $6,000.
  • A case where medical bills totaled $200,000 but the settlement was only $60,000. In that situation, we convinced providers to take steep reductions so the client could still receive money from the case.
  • A client who borrowed around $9,000 in medical-related costs and was facing a payback demand of nearly $40,000. We negotiated the balance down to about $25,000, which was still high but saved the client a significant amount.

In extreme situations, doctors may accept just 20 cents on the dollar if the case has problems or if a trial could result in no recovery at all.

When Negotiations Happen

Most of the time, negotiations take place after a settlement is finalized. However, when bills are so high that they might prevent a case from settling, we sometimes contact doctors beforehand to secure an agreement to reduce their charges. These discussions are usually verbal so that if the case proceeds to trial, the full billed amounts can still be presented as evidence.

How Long Negotiations Take

The timeline depends on the number of providers and how willing they are to compromise. Some bills can be resolved within days, while others take weeks or even months. Negotiation involves contacting each provider, presenting the facts of the settlement, and often going back and forth until a fair number is reached. This is why understanding how long does it take lawyers to negotiate medical bills can help set realistic expectations for clients.

Clients rarely succeed when they try to negotiate on their own. Providers recognize that law firms like Abrahamson & Uiterwyk bring them ongoing cases, which gives us leverage that individuals do not have.

Real-Life Example of Negotiations

We once handled a case where the client’s bills were $200,000, but the settlement was only $60,000. By working with the doctors, we secured reductions so the client still walked away with compensation.  To make that happen, we proposed that all the doctors take a prorated share of the available funds. Some providers agreed to accept that amount as full payment, while others accepted it but reserved the right to pursue the client for the remainder. Either way, our negotiation ensured the client was not left with nothing.

Why Negotiation Matters

Without negotiation, many clients would see their entire settlement vanish. For example:

  • Settlement: $60,000
  • Attorney’s fee: $20,000
  • Medical bills: $20,000
  • Pre-settlement advance: $10,000

This leaves just $10,000 for the client. If the medical bills are cut in half, the client could walk away with $20,000 or more. Negotiation often makes the difference between walking away frustrated and walking away with a meaningful recovery. Many clients also ask about paying medical bills after a settlement and whether their lawyer can help. In most cases, attorneys negotiate directly with providers to reduce what’s owed so that clients can keep more of their compensation.

At Abrahamson & Uiterwyk, we know how to challenge inflated bills and fight for reductions so that our clients get the most out of their settlements.

Why Medical Bills Are So High After Accidents

Medical providers often agree to wait for payment until a case is resolved. In exchange, they charge private pay rates that are significantly higher than what insurance companies would cover. For example, a doctor may charge five or six times what Medicare would allow. These elevated rates can quickly overwhelm a settlement if not reduced.

FAQs About Negotiating Medical Bills After Settlement in Florida

How long does it take lawyers to negotiate medical bills?

The timeline varies. Some bills can be negotiated within days, while others take weeks or even months depending on how many providers are involved and how willing they are to compromise.

Do lawyers ever negotiate medical bills before a settlement?

Yes. If medical bills are so high that they could prevent a case from settling, lawyers may contact providers before reaching a settlement to secure agreements for reductions. Most of the time, though, negotiations happen after the settlement is finalized.

How much can medical bills actually be reduced?

It depends on the case and the provider. Reductions can typically range from 20 percent to as much as 80 percent. In one case, $200,000 in bills was reduced dramatically so the client could still recover money from a $60,000 settlement.

What if the bills are more than the settlement amount?

When bills exceed the settlement, lawyers work to convince providers to accept steep reductions. Sometimes doctors will agree to take just a fraction of what they billed in order to make sure the case can resolve and the client still receives compensation.

Do lawyers get paid before medical bills?

Lawyers are typically paid their fees and costs first out of the settlement funds. After that, the remaining money is used to pay back medical providers. This is another reason why negotiating bills is so important, since it directly impacts how much the client ultimately takes home.