Who Covers Your Medical Bills After a Slip & Fall Accident?

Legally Reviewed and Edited by: Terry L. Cochran

Slip and fall accidents are a serious issue in the U.S., resulting in over one million hospital stays each year. Injuries from a slip and fall can include broken bones, traumatic brain injuries and spinal cord damage, leaving victims with hefty slip and fall medical bills to hospitals, doctors and therapists.

If you’re hurt in a slip and fall caused by a property owner’s negligence, you may wonder who foots the bill for your recovery. Our slip and fall attorneys at Cochran, Kroll, & Associates, P.C. can help you explore resources to pay for your slip and fall medical bills and protect your financial well-being.

Possible Injuries in a Slip and Fall Accident

You can suffer serious harm when you slip and fall on a poorly maintained walkway, slippery surface, or uneven stairs. Common injuries from slip and fall accidents include:

• Sprains and strains. When you fall, a sudden twist or pull can stretch your ligaments and tendons too far, leading to joint injuries. Medical treatment may include physical therapy and surgery to repair the damage.
• Fractures. Falls are a leading cause of broken bones, particularly in older individuals. These injuries often necessitate surgical intervention to realign and fix the bones, followed by a period of rehabilitation to restore function and strength.
• Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). A blow to the head during a fall can result in concussions or more severe TBIs. These conditions may become more pronounced over time and require imaging tests, surgery, and long-term neurological care.
• Spinal cord injuries. Damage to the spinal cord can occur from swelling, bleeding, or pressure on the nerves. As the condition progresses, it can lead to serious complications like numbness or paralysis, requiring surgical intervention, ongoing medication, and physical therapy.
• Facial injuries. Falls can cause cuts, broken bones in the face, and eye injuries, necessitating care from specialists such as oral surgeons for jaw and dental issues or ophthalmologists for eye injuries. Treatment might involve surgery, cosmetic reconstruction, and targeted therapies.
• Hip injuries. Breaking a hip usually means hospital admission and surgery to fix or replace the hip, followed by a period of physical therapy to regain mobility and strength. A broken hip costs an average of $50,508 per patient, making it a costly injury.

Type of Medical Bills You Might Face After Your Accident

You may need extensive medical treatment after a slip or fall. This can result in high slip and fall medical bills, including charges for:

• Emergency department bills. These cover immediate injury triage and may include additional fees for ambulances, tests, medications, supplies, and specialist consultations. In 2024, the average ER cost in Michigan is $1,273 per visit, but it can be higher based on the length of stay and treatment required.
• Inpatient hospital bills. These encompass room charges, medical staff services, procedures, tests, prescription drugs, and other ancillary fees. In 2021, the Kaiser Family Foundation reported the average inpatient cost per day in Michigan was $2,387.
• Fees from medical specialists. Charges for consultations, evaluations, and developing treatment plans from specialists like orthopedic surgeons, neurologists, and pain management physicians. Even if you have health insurance, these can require costly co-payments.
• Medication expenses. Managing pain, preventing blood clots, or treating infections after surgery can result in substantial expenses, even with insurance coverage. For instance, the average retail price of Xarelto (blood thinner medication) is up to $550 without insurance or discounts.
• Bills for medical equipment. Charges for crutches, knee scooters, wheelchairs, braces, and other assistive devices used during the recovery process. Depending on your needs, these can cost thousands of dollars per year.
• Therapy expenses. The cost of physical, occupational, speech, or psychological therapy for post-accident rehabilitation. For example, physical therapy is typically $150 per session without insurance.

Who Pays Your Medical Bills After a Slip and Fall?

Incurring high slip and fall medical bills can strain your finances and impact your mental and physical well-being. You may worry about how to pay for all of your medical needs, especially if you don’t have health insurance to cover a portion of the costs.

Our attorneys at Cochran, Kroll, & Associates, P.C. can help you understand who pays for your slip and fall medical bills, including the following potential sources:

Your Health Insurance

After a slip and fall accident, your health insurance can provide immediate financial relief by covering your medical expenses upfront. This coverage is often subject to deductibles — the amount you pay before your insurance starts paying — and co-pays, which are fixed charges for services.

When your health insurance pays for your accident-related medical bills, the insurer may place a medical lien on any future settlement or award you receive. This lien allows them to be reimbursed for the expenses they covered from the compensation awarded for your injuries.

At-Fault Party’s Insurance

In cases where a property owner’s negligence causes your slip and fall, you can pursue compensation through a premises liability claim. This legal action necessitates proving four key elements: the at-fault party’s duty of care, their breach of this duty, a direct link between their negligence and your injury, and the resulting damages.

An experienced attorney can accurately assess the full spectrum of your medical expenses, advocating for a settlement that covers your immediate and long-term care needs. If you win your case, the at-fault party’s liability insurance covers your slip and fall medical bills, ensuring you’re financially protected as you recover.

Medical Providers

If you need immediate medical care but cannot pay for services, your attorney may negotiate with medical providers to secure care on a lien basis. This means your doctors agree to provide you with medical treatments upfront, with the understanding that you will reimburse them from your future settlement or award.

This can help you receive timely medical attention without the upfront financial burden, allowing you to focus on recovery. Once your case is resolved, your attorney will pay off the medical lien with your settlement proceeds, compensating your doctors for their services.

Workers’ Compensation Insurance

In Michigan, workers’ compensation offers medical benefits and wage replacement to employees injured on the job. This insurance covers all medical expenses related to the work injury, ensuring access to necessary treatments. If you’re unable to work because of your injury, it also provides two-thirds of your average weekly wages.

Filing for workers’ compensation benefits can provide financial stability while you focus on recovery. Our workers’ compensation attorneys at Cochran, Kroll, & Associates, P.C. can help you apply for these benefits to cover medical costs from a work-related injury.

Benefits of Hiring an Attorney to Help With Your Case

When dealing with legal matters, hiring an attorney is crucial to ensuring a favorable outcome. Our experienced attorneys at Cochran, Kroll & Associates, P.C., offer valuable support throughout the legal process, including:

• Comprehensive case review. Our legal team scrutinizes every detail of your case, from inspecting the incident location to understanding the fall’s context. This helps us develop a strong legal strategy, strengthening your case for settlement or trial.
• Evidence gathering. We gather and organize evidence, including medical records, eyewitness statements, and surveillance footage, presenting a compelling case with strong supporting proof.
• Medical assessment. Our senior partner and nurse attorney, Eileen Kroll, uses her medical knowledge to help you achieve maximum compensation. She can assess the severity of your injuries, connect them to the slip and fall accident, and accurately determine compensation.
• Negotiation skills. Our attorneys negotiate with insurers and opposing parties to achieve a settlement that covers your injuries and losses. We customize our approach to each case, helping you get a fair recovery award without going to trial.
• Trained trial representation. If your case proceeds to trial, our attorneys thoroughly prepare for litigation. This includes crafting a persuasive legal argument, preparing witnesses for testimony, and arguing on your behalf in front of a judge and jury.

Secure the Compensation You Rightfully Deserve

Receiving full compensation for your medical bills after a slip and fall requires the help of a qualified attorney. At Cochran, Kroll & Associates, P.C., our personal injury lawyers have years of negotiation and trial experience, giving us the skills needed to win your claim.

We have helped personal injury victims recover millions for their injuries, helping them rebuild their lives after an accident. Contact us today for a complimentary consultation. Let us help you achieve a fair outcome, ensuring that your slip and fall medical bills are adequately handled

Our contingency fee basis means we only get paid if we win your case, so there is no financial risk to you to get started. Call our law firm today at 1-866-MICHLAW (1-866-642-4529) and schedule your no-obligation, free case evaluation.

Disclaimer : The information provided is general and not for legal advice. The blogs are not intended to provide legal counsel and no attorney-client relationship is created nor intended.