What is a Hospital Lien and How Does it affect your Personal Injury Case?
Many people go to the emergency room after a car accident and do not have health insurance. Then the hospital finds out they were injured as a result of a car accident. The hospital, or a law firm for the hospital, then sends a certified letter informing them that the hospital intends to file a hospital lien.
If you received one of these letters, you may be wondering what a hospital lien is.
A hospital lien is a type of lien that attaches to a recovery or settlement of a personal injury case, meaning it will have to be paid for from the patient’s personal injury settlement or verdict. Other medical providers that can use this lien include nursing homes, physicians’ practices, and providers of traumatic burn care. The lien is not against you personally but against your cause of action.
Hospital liens are codified in O.C.G.A. § 44-14-470 – O.C.G.A. § 44-14-474.