Medical Malpractice Attorneys and Lawyers

Help plz-ty. Questions about attorneys and medical situation.?

My contingency lawyer pushed me to go to their referal doctor, I insisted I didn't want to get stuck with any bills, and he repeatedly told me not to worry. I don't have any insurance and they know that. I said but what will happen if we don't get a claim? he still kept trying to tell me I won't be responsible but then I think he slipped and said I might be. but again turned around and said that I won't. See, and I don't even have the option to go to a doctor of my choosing. Then I spoke with the people at the doctor's office and said the same to them, they said i'd be fine as long as the lawyer signs an LOP letter of protection. This lawyer is with a big supposedly reputable company. From the lawyer's office they spoke with the docs office and agreed to authorize me for an evaluation visit and take it from there. After I went, i was given another appont for 3 weeks later and told that i would get a call to confirm that appt b/c they needed signatures from my lawyer. When nobody called, days b4 the apt I called the doc office and inquired as to what's going on, they said they didn't see Additional Details 1 hour ago ...anything regarding from my lawyers signatures etc, and said that i still have a standing appt so i should just come in, and that if they needed to they will call to cancel. They should not have allowed me to come if they didn't have his signature,,,after i went to that appointment and was leaving, they told me the lawyer never signed the LOP, meanwhile before hand i had repeatedly told my lawyer he needs to sign still, and he said don't worry I'll have it taken care of you go ahead tand keep that appt, but he never had signed it. Now I got a bill in the mail for those 2 appointments, they also fabricated some additions in there. My family will call and speak with the billing services but what should I do to make them understand this should not have happened? btw-the case will not receive any claim because the negligent person refused to give over thier insurance. Thank you so much. 10 minutes ago Further more, I am now scared of receiving surprise bills from the attorney even though it's on contingency fee and he has not contacted me since May. Will they stick me with any bills even though we received nothing since we never had a chance to file a claim with the insurance and the attny only went as far as sending out a certified letter to the negligent person requesting their insurance information and being turned down? I don't know what to do? Am I suppose to do anything to free myself of my contract with him or just leave it be? I would desperately appreciate any answers.

Public Comments

1. My experience in such matters in California is that there is something called a "lien form", which is signed by the doctor, the patient/client, and the attorney. It authorizes a lien against the non-attorney fee portions of the case proceeds for payment of the medical expenses to which the lien applies, and it also authorizes and instructs the attorney to disburse the funds accordingly. Interestingly, many of the lien forms nowadays also contain language to the effect that the patient remains personally responsible. In practice, largely out of a desire for continued cross-referrals of clients and patients between the doctor and the lawyer, the doctor limits his/her recovery to the available settlement funds. Also, the doctor is often agreeable to a reduction of fees for a few reasons: 1.) The case is smaller than originally thought, 2.) Sure money now is better than maybe more or less money later, 3.) Amounts billed on a lien basis are often higher than the standard insurance-approved fees--higher to maximize claim value and b/c of uncertainty of outcome of claim. You are entitled to a copy of everything you sign with your lawyer. See if the "LOP" says anything about personal responsibility.