Cashing check with hospital name in it after settlement

by Tamra
(Riverside, CA.)

I live in California and I just won a $15,000 auto injury claim as a 3rd party claim.

I received the check today and it is made out to me and the hospital and I want to know what I can do to cash this check, because I don't want to give it all to the hospital, because my total hospital bill is $52,000, plus all the other medical bills that I have incurred from that wreck is a lot also, I was not going to give it all to the hospital, because I told the ambulance company and physicians fees, and so on that I would pay them.

Oh yeah and there is no lean against my settlement of $15,000. So what can I do about this?

Thank you very much!


Answer:

Hello Tamra,

Well, if the check is made out to the hospital, there is likely a lien against your settlement. The insurance company knows of this medical bill and wants to protect itself by naming them there.

All you can do it go back to the insurance company and tell them that this does not even cover your medical expenses. They need to see if they can settle for more.

At any rate, you really need to talk to an attorney.