medical bill as juvenile

[mom2amk]

What is the name of your state? TN

My niece was in an automobile accident at age 17. Her mother "was" paying on the emergency room bills until she turned 18, 5 months later. Then, we're finding out now, just stopped. My neice is now getting collection notices (a year and a half later) telling her that she has to pay the balance of $594 or else it will go on her credit report. She is 19, in college for nursing and going into the army after college.
Is she liable for this debt or is her mother since she was under age?

[Zigner]

Originally Posted by mom2amk

What is the name of your state? TN

My niece was in an automobile accident at age 17. Her mother "was" paying on the emergency room bills until she turned 18, 5 months later. Then, we're finding out now, just stopped. My neice is now getting collection notices (a year and a half later) telling her that she has to pay the balance of $594 or else it will go on her credit report. She is 19, in college for nursing and going into the army after college.
Is she liable for this debt or is her mother since she was under age?

Who signed the financial responsibility forms?

[ecmst12]

Mom is probably liable, as she probably signed the forms, but if she has the money, she should pay. The bills are on her, they're legit bills, and she's now an adult. It's not that much money, and she definitely doesn't want it to haunt her credit report and accrue interest for the next 20 years...

[debtcollector`]

Originally Posted by ecmst12

Mom is probably liable, as she probably signed the forms, but if she has the money, she should pay. The bills are on her, they're legit bills, and she's now an adult. It's not that much money, and she definitely doesn't want it to haunt her credit report and accrue interest for the next 20 years...

Not to mention that the debt will cause problems for her going into the Army.

DC

[moburkes]

The person who caused the accident is responsible.

[mom2amk]

My neice was the one responsible for the accident. Her auto insurrance paid for the other guy, but she only had liability and no medical insurance. Mom signed all papers in the emergency room, as my neice was a minor. Mom paid a little on the medical bills, but there was a balance left of $594 and now collection agency is coming after neice for the bill.
Can she be held liable for the debt since she was a minor at the time? She really doesn't have the money to pay it since she is in college and only works part-time.

[moburkes]

Originally Posted by mom2amk

My neice was the one responsible for the accident. Her auto insurrance paid for the other guy, but she only had liability and no medical insurance. Mom signed all papers in the emergency room, as my neice was a minor. Mom paid a little on the medical bills, but there was a balance left of $594 and now collection agency is coming after neice for the bill.
Can she be held liable for the debt since she was a minor at the time? She really doesn't have the money to pay it since she is in college and only works part-time.

Yes. A driver license is a contract, too, but I don't see you asking if she should give that up since she was a minor.

[ecmst12]

Well, she should discuss it with her mom, but one way or another, one of them should at least start making payments on the balance. It will be in your neice's name since she was the patient, and probably will end up on her credit report. People get credit cards at age 17 and are held to those contracts, I don't think this will be any different.