Ambulance crashes into cyclist, sends him bill

[Mr. Pink]

I hope I'm not repeating this here.

https://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-n...suit-says.html

"An Oregon cyclist who was struck by an ambulance that made a right turn into him — fracturing his nose and leaving him with scrapes and other injuries across his body — has filed a $997,000 lawsuit against the ambulance provider after workers scooped him up, drove him to the hospital and then billed him for the service, according to the suit.

Attorney Travis Mayor says the ambulance provider — Columbia River Fire & Rescue — sent his client, 71-year-old William Hoesch, a $1,862 bill for the ambulance ride. That’s among about $47,000 in medical expenses that Hoesch has racked up so far and another $50,000 of medical costs he expects in the future, the suit states."

[fourflys]

Originally Posted by Mr. Pink

Attorney Travis Mayor says the ambulance provider — Columbia River Fire & Rescue — sent his client, 71-year-old William Hoesch, a $1,862 bill for the ambulance ride. That’s among about $47,000 in medical expenses that Hoesch has racked up so far and another $50,000 of medical costs he expects in the future, the suit states."

that's horrible, but also probably procedure.. also, $1900 for a ambulance ride is actually really cheap I think.. when my kid had to be transported from the local hospital to the larger hospital (for a presumptive T1 Diabetes diagnosis, so not intensive care), the total bill was $25k.. thankfully Tricare paid all but a small portion of it..

[Mr. Pink]

Sounds like a nutty lawsuit. He got banged up, for sure, looks like he landed on his face, which isn't fun. But they only talking scrapes and such, not even orthopedic issues. He's old enough for Medicare, which, I'm pretty sure covers a lot of this. 40 grand for present issues and maybe 50 grand for the immediate future? Hmmm. But I get pain and suffering.

Hell get five figures and a nice new bike. I'd insist on the high end Serotta in the other thread.

[windsurfer]

The fact that the ambulance company billed his insurance to transport him doesn't shock me nearly as much as the claim of $900k for pain and suffering.

I know it is just an opening offer for future negotiations, but still.

[bigbill]

I look at the pain and suffering number and it seems high, but none of us know the long term health issues this person will suffer. The attorney gets a significant payment from this amount if they win the case. It doesn't matter if this person has medicare, just because they have medical coverage doesn't mean everything is paid. If the victim has co-pays, they could wipe out savings, all because he was struck by an ambulance while riding his bike. The company needs to own this and make sure the guy is taken care of.

[windsurfer]

Totally agree, but isn't that what the other $97k is for; current ($47k) and future ($50k) medical expenses.

[72gmc]

I’m willing to believe that the ambulance co’s automated billing system just did what it does, and somewhere a human—perhaps the same human who replaced other humans with software—is asking why didn’t we have a way to catch this.

[stackie]

Per pi attorney.

You can recover full value of care even if insurance covers. And you can recover full value if any physician or facility writes off the care.

Of course, your medical insurance company could come after you for the money recovered, if they find out. That’s why they always ask if the injury was result if an accident.

Yes the pain and suffering number is high. But it’s a starting point and the ou lawyer will take 40%.

In this case I fully support the ask. That’s just gross.

Jon

[robt57]

Pointing out that this area of OR had a serious ambulance problem, shortages of EMS and staff causing significant delays for service...

See where I am going here? Instead of laying on the ground for 2 hours waiting for an ambulance, our fellow rider not only was lucky enough not to get hit by an uninsured vehicle but rather the ambulance that he might have waited 2 hours for.

Sorry for that run on sentence, and incomplete previous one.

And you can bet the ambulance has A LOT more INS than the avg min liability driver here, if he/she has insurance at all.

#LottaLemonaide.

[robt57]

Originally Posted by 72gmc

I’m willing to believe that the ambulance co’s automated billing system just did what it does, and somewhere a human—perhaps the same human who replaced other humans with software—is asking why didn’t we have a way to catch this.

Yeah, I am thinking the EMS paperwork is all medical leaving the accident reports to law enforcement. Thus is just got processed and billed.

Glad the cyclist is not seriously injured or got killed. I just don't ride out and about with the blunt skulls for going on 7 years now.

[Fat Cat]

Did the ambulance leave the scene of an accident ? Hit and run is it ?

[fourflys]

Originally Posted by Fat Cat

Did the ambulance leave the scene of an accident ? Hit and run is it ?

why would you think that? it says they literally put him in the back of the rig and transported to the ER.. and then billed him..

[unterhausen]

Originally Posted by bigbill

I look at the pain and suffering number and it seems high, but none of us know the long term health issues this person will suffer.

I know someone that got hit and it was years before he could ride at anywhere near his former level. That's not to mention all the time and work of getting through all of his medical problems. I ain't working for free. This rider is fairly old, he's never getting back to normal.

I was at voir dire for a trucker that screwed up and crashed his truck in a construction zone because he was going too fast. He was suing for more than this. Hopefully he and his unethical lawyers got nothing, but fortunately I wasn't selected for the jury so I won't know.

[CAAD]

After this lawsuit goes through that same ambulance ride will cost the next guy $3k. Guarantee that injury lawyer is the first one to call his insurance broker to whine about his increased auto rates every year.

You should be made whole after an accident, but these 7 figure claims are getting out of hand and we are all paying for it.

[Flinch]

Hmmm, when I got hit last year the ride was billed at $2500, but of course the insurance negotiates that down. $67k med bills for fractured pelvis, banged up ribs, clots in leg, etc. Insurance paid most.

As mentioned, most states have provisions where you can recover the LIST PRICE for the medical bills+co-pays (Not the insurance-paid lower amount), but have to pay back the insurance company for what they actually paid (in my case $7k). Also, many/most auto insurance policies pay for Medical (usually $5k), and your Uninsured Motorist coverage kicks in if the other party does not have insurance. Go ahead, ask me how I know the latter!

Not sure about $997k...but it sure pays to carry $250k Uninsured Motorist coverage! That I KNOW ! Oh, and the attorney gets 33%, well worth it IMHO.

But having to pay for the ride on the horse that kicked you???