If you've just been injured, you may not know what to do if you're facing medical bills you can't afford to pay. If the injury was the fault of a business or other person, you might be able to file a personal injury claim. Since this can be a complicated process, you'll want to hire an attorney to help. You probably don't want to agree to a settlement until a personal injury attorney has read over the documents since the other party's insurance will want to pay as little as possible. Here are some steps that might help you get the amount of money you need:

Seek Medical Care Right Away

Go to an emergency room for treatment if needed rather than avoid it due to cost. Your well-being is the most important, and a county or community hospital should treat your injuries even if you can't pay at the time. You can probably agree to a payment schedule or apply to Medicaid if your injuries are more extensive. In addition to receiving proper care, you'll want to undergo all the imaging tests and other treatments recommended by the doctor. Even if you have medical insurance, you may have to pay a lot out of pocket initially, but this money will be reimbursed to you if you win your personal injury case. Receiving prompt care might translate into getting more money for your injury. If you wait until your case is settled to get money for treatment, you might not get as much. Plus, you may have to wait months to get the money, and you should get care as soon as possible for your health and well-being.

Track Your Daily Progress And Expenses

In addition to paying for your actual medical costs, your settlement should include money that covers other expenses you accumulate as a result of your injury. It should also cover lost wages. By the time your case goes to trial or negotiation, you may forget a lot of the details of your treatment and recovery. That's why you should keep a daily record of all your expenses starting at the time of your injury.

File On Time Before It's Too Late

When you're injured, it isn't always easy to tell how extensively you're hurt. For instance, if you develop whiplash, you may not even have pain right away. Other times, you may think you're going to get better soon, only to find you still have medical problems weeks or months later. Talking to a personal injury attorney early after your injury is important because there is a time window for when you can pursue a claim. If you wait too long, it will be too late to sue for help with your medical bills and losses.

While you're probably confused and at a loss on how to proceed, an experienced personal injury attorney has seen many people in your situation. He or she can rely on this experience to determine if you have grounds for filing a lawsuit, even if your injury was very recent. Therefore, one of the best things you can do to protect yourself and your finances when you're facing a future of uncertain medical bills is to talk to an attorney. The first visit is often free of charge, so you won't risk anything by seeking information that will put your mind at ease.

Check out a website like http://www.centralnylaw.com for more information and assistance.