Back Injury CVS - Slip and Fall - FL

[Infinate_Blue]

What is the name of your state (FL)?

Back in July I went into CVS near closing time to get my Elderly mother some cold medication or something, can't remember the purchase.

Anyway, there were only a few staff members left, however it was not near closing time yet. Anyway, a clerk was moping the white un-carpeted area. I saw that she was moping and walked what I thought was the "dry area". It didn't apear wet. Her sign was facing the other way. I asumed that she was moping near the pharmacy since it closed earlier.

Anyway, I slipped and fell. I told the manager, he was very nice and gave me a number to speak with CVS headquarters in case I was hurt. Headquarters informed me that they will only reimburse for medical treatments. Well, my insurance won't cover accidents and now I no loger even have insurance and can't afford to get any medical treatment for this.

Well, I waited a few days to see if my back got better that maybe it was just soreness or something. It hasn't. So, I started contacting lawyers that would work on a contingency. Because, all that I want it to have my back treated and stop the PAIN!!

The lawyers that I have contacted won't take my case, basically because I'm overweight!! They don't say that (however). I know that They're all over this, having me sign contracts, ect. ect. until they meet me. What should I do? There are a lot of overweight people in this world? What if I had been my mother and broken a hip or something? Now, the phrase that I get from any lawyer that I speak with is "why did you wait so long". It takes time to go through lawyers and them not take a case. DUH!

Please, any advice would help!!

Thank you!

[Zigner]

What do you expect to get? CVS has agreed to reimburse your medical costs...

[ecmst12]

You do not get to claim injury, get money, and THEN seek treatment. You must seek treatment FIRST, paying out of your pocket if necessary, so you can document your injuries and show what treatment was needed, how long it took, and what it cost. Then, after all your treatment is done and you are feeling better, you gather all your bills and treatment notes and submit your demand for payment. And they pay (not necessarily everything you ask for) because you have PROVEN your damages. No treatment, no medical bills, no damages, no case. And yes, the fact that you waited 5 months makes your case much weaker. If you were really hurt, you would have gotten treatment regardless of cost.

[Infinate_Blue]

I did want to explain! I don't expect CVS to pay me tons of money or anything.

All that I want out of this is TREATMENT!! I have no insurance at this time; what insurance that I had before was minimal. I don't have hundreds or thousands of dollars to pay UPFRONT!! I have checked almost every Dr. in my area and they will not bill or make a payment plan or anything. I must Pay UPFRONT! Which is why I waited. I thought my back would get better. At first I thought it was just pulled muscle. I know that it weakens my case. However, I'm not the type of person to sue CVS for a pulled muscle. That's rediculous and bogs down the court system.

I guess this is another situation of lawyers are useless unless you have lots of money.

I spoke with THREE attorneys when it happened. They would send me contracts and say that they would work on a contingency and send me to a Dr. Of coarse they would take a huge percent if they won. Which is only fair! But when they would meet me, suddenly they couldn't take the case. I can only assume that it is because I'm overweight. However, my back was not like this before. I use to do all sorts of things without excruciating pain.

Not everyone is wealthy and with all of the retired people that come down here****************************..any doctor, physician or clinic is VERY strict about payment even with insurance. Many won't even take Medicare for retired people because so many come down here from up North and the physicians have to wait so long to deal with Medicare. Plus they're over booked with patients as it is.

I thank you all for your responses, however remember every state is different. I moved here from Atlanta to help my mom when she had breast cancer. There is a huge difference in comparing the two medical systems!

I would love it if someone from FL could give me some advice at all possible.

Thanks!

[ecmst12]

Every state is different, but some things are universal. Personal injury claims simply don't work the way you would like them to.

You said you didn't think your health insurance would cover an accident. I think you were probably wrong about that, your insurance probably WOULD cover it, because it was not auto related, you would just have to pay them back after receiving payment from CVS. But since you no longer have this coverage, that doesn't matter.

Tort law doesn't exist to allow people to afford treatment. It exists to compensate people for injuries that are due to someone else's negligence - if they have suffered physical and financial damages and can prove it.

[cracker]

Go to a hospital, they don't charge upfront. They can at least give you an exray and some pain pills. Have you tried a local health department or clinic? I know thats no fun, but they charge on a sliding scale.

[j991]

The process is to seek treatment before seeking damages. Try contacting CVS HQ and explain that you cannot afford treatment. They may agree to have the Dr. office bill them up to a certain amount for treatment.

[ignitespeed]

Go back to CVS and fall again,


joking.