Again, it is very common for clients to have this concern following an fall accident here in Florida. First, some properties carry what is known as Medical Payment coverage. This sort of coverage generally applies to anyone that is injured on the property and regardless of fault. There is a usually a cap on medical expense coverage and the most common amount that you see is $5,000.00. You see this sort of coverage more commonly in small businesses as opposed to major retailers. Thus, many clients don’t realize that this sort of coverage exists. You would have to order a copy of the business’s insurance policy to figure out whether they have it or not.
Otherwise, most businesses will have liability coverage. However, liability coverage indemnifies the business against a judgment (in other words, pays for any judgment entered against the business for injuries sustained on the premises). Thus, the insurance company does not just pay the medical bills; however, if they believe that the business was at fault for the fall, then they would offer a settlement for the particular case. In a setting where an slip and fall injury patient has no health insurance, it is common for doctors to have them sign a letter of protection. The letter of protection basically states that the injured person will not be put into collection and in exchange will pay the doctor bill from the injury settlement. If there is a strong injury case, the doctor may agree to the “letter of protection” and then when the case resolves those medical bills are paid from the settlement or verdict.
