Introduction
Dr. Brad Condu: So, Dr. Brad Condu here. I’m the owner of Focus Physical Therapy, and I’m here with Tate Meagher.
Tate Mayher: Yes, owner of Mayher Law Offices. Don’t wait, call Tate.
Dr. Brad Condu: That’s awesome. I love that tagline. So, I do have a couple of questions for you, Tate. You know, I’m a physical therapist, and I have worked a lot with car accident clients over the years. And there are some things I’d like to kind of get cleared up if you don’t mind.
Misconceptions About Using a Lawyer
Dr. Brad Condu: One of the first questions oftentimes that I have with some of my clients is some of the misconceptions about people that have car accidents using a lawyer. So, can you speak to that a little bit?
Tate Mayher: Sure. I mean, I know a lot of people think hiring a lawyer is going to be a difficult process. You know, lawyers are just out for themselves. They’re not really out to help the individual. And there’s a lot of big law firms out there. You might not even be able to speak with the lawyer after you contact them. So, I understand why some people might have misconceptions about that. But like at our firm, we’re a smaller firm. We only take on so many cases at a time. We try to give a personal touch to every single person’s case that comes through the door.
Suing and Insurance
Tate Mayher: I know there’s a lot of people that are kind of afraid of the word ‘suing somebody else’ or whatnot. I mean, most of the time, if somebody’s in a car accident, what we’re trying to pursue is their insurance company and nothing beyond that. A lot of people think the thought of suing someone is not really in their blood. But a lot of these cases settle without even having to sue. We’re often going against the insurance company where their insurance company is having to pay out. If you’re going through a difficult time for something that’s not your fault at all, you legally are entitled to compensation. And a lot of people that are out of work, supporting kids, it’s crucial that you maximize your settlement in those types of situations. Hopefully, by contacting a lawyer and getting the help that you need, you can get through that difficult time.
Kentucky’s No-Fault System
Dr. Brad Condu: Speaking to that a little bit more, so we’re in the state of Kentucky and there are different laws from state to state. So oftentimes, my clients are also confused about what they’re going to do when they come to me. They know it’s going to cost them money, right? So, what is the actual process of how you get paid and what the client’s responsibility is as far as the money that has to be paid to get their medical bills taken care of?
Tate Mayher: Sure. That’s a great question. For someone that’s in a car accident specifically, Kentucky is what is called a no-fault state, which means that everybody that owns a vehicle in Kentucky and has insurance on it has what is known as no-fault coverage, also known as personal injury protection benefits. This means that at least the first $10,000 of their medical bills will be paid by their own auto insurance company under this PIP, personal injury protection benefit, coverage. It’s a good thing because they don’t have to worry about if they don’t have health insurance. Even if they do, it can really help them maximize their settlement because places like this physical therapy with Dr. Brad here will be reimbursed by the PIP provider right away without having to deal with who’s at fault for the accident.
Maximizing Settlement
Tate Mayher: If you have health insurance too, if you go to the hospital, it’d be very rare for a hospital bill to be denied by health insurance or anything like that. If you have it, great. But before the end of your case, you’re going to have a health insurance lien on your case, so your health insurance will have to be reimbursed. The way you can really maximize your case and the amount you get in your pocket is by getting them to bill your health insurance. If you go by ambulance to the hospital after the accident, get them to bill your health insurance. You’ll still have that $10,000 of PIP. If you go to a place like physical therapy, and the bill is $7,500, you’d still have $2,500 left of PIP. You can use that to pay off your health insurance lien. Your health insurance usually pays at a discounted rate, meaning you can maximize your settlement and the amount you get in your pocket at the end of the day by making sure that the insurance pays out in that particular way.
Benefits of Small, Local Firms
Dr. Brad Condu: Actually, that kind of reminds me of another question. Being that, you know, I’m small and local, and so are you, how much easier does that make it for the client when you have your lawyer and your medical provider being small and local as it pertains to communication?
Tate Mayher: Great question. I think what we offer here, and I’m sure you’re the same way, is more of a personal touch to everybody’s case. In my office, we text our clients. We actually have case management software where myself, my assistant, and my associate attorney can always text our clients. They can text us at any time if they want to know a status update on their case. Some bigger firms, you might not even be able to speak with your lawyer. It might be a case manager, someone who doesn’t have a law degree. Just in general, I think that’s how our small businesses can really provide that more personal touch to our patients and clients. It might not be for everybody, but I think we separate ourselves because of that.
Contacting Mayher Law Offices
Dr. Brad Condu: That’s awesome. A lot more clarity, I think. That customer service and making sure that people feel really confident that they’re going to be taken care of is huge. So last thing, how do we get a hold of you? If we need to be able to use you, what’s the best way to get in touch with you?
Tate Mayher: Sure. Well, we take calls 24/7 in my office. I’m not always available 24/7, but our phones are open 24/7. You can call us at 502-309-2992. If you need to get in touch with us, you’ll speak to some of my staff first. They’ll usually get a lot of the intake questions out of the way and get familiar with your case. Then you can speak with me. We provide 100% free consultations, and I’m always happy to speak with anyone going through a difficult time following any type of accident. We specialize in car accidents, slip and trip-and-fall incidents, and dog attack cases. Another way to get a hold of us is online at www.calltate.com. You can fill out a form or chat 24/7. I pride myself on being very responsive to anyone who contacts my office and providing great customer service.
Dr. Brad Condu: Awesome. That’s great. Thanks, Tate.
Tate Mayher: You got it, Dr. Brad. I appreciate it.
Dr. Brad Condu: Thank you. Appreciate it.
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