Super Lawyers
Justia Lawyer Rating
North Carolina Bar Association
Avvo Rating
Legal Elite

What Medical Bills Must Be Paid From a Wrongful Death Settlement

North Carolina wrongful death cases are extremely traumatic for the family members of the victims. While family members are still grieving for their loved one, medical bills from doctors and hospitals start arriving. When we receive a calls about these cases, we frequently hear the same questions such as:

  • What should be done about these medical bills?
  • What if there is a wrongful death recovery? Do we need to pay the medical bills from the wrongful death recovery?
  • What about funeral bills?

North Carolina has a wrongful death statute which can be found at N.C.G.S. 28A-18-2. This statute has a number of provisions which are important when considering medical bills and a wrongful death settlement. First, the money obtained in a wrongful death is not considered an asset of the estate. Therefore, the wrongful death proceeds are not subject to the claims of creditors including medical care providers such as doctors and hospitals.

However, the wrongful death statute does entitle doctors and hospitals to a total of $4500 if the medical bills were related to the injury resulting in death.

The statute also allows for the payment of reasonable funeral expenses from the wrongful death recovery.

If you have questions regarding the distribution of wrongful death proceeds, please feel free to contact Hendren, Redwine & Malone for a free consultation. Our lawyers have experience with wrongful death claims. We work closely with estate administration attorneys and can put your mind at ease during this very difficult time.

Client Reviews
★★★★★
Mike Malone was absolutely fabulous to work with. He represented my daughter in a case and we could not have been happier! He was upfront from the beginning about expectations, honest through out the case and above all.. caring! Even though I lived 2 hours away, he was more than willing to accommodate us in any way, even if it meant driving out of his way! Mike is one of the smartest lawyers you will find. I recommend him to everyone! I have known him now over 8 years and we still keep in touch. Thanks Mike. - Christy Smith
★★★★★
Mike Malone is the attorney for an estate wrongful death claim. Mike has helped me through every single step. Mike is intelligent, trustworthy and thorough, and responds quickly and personally to questions. I would highly recommend this firm to anyone who needs an attorney. Mike Malone has proven to work diligently to assist you in every way as well as make sure you understand what is happening. - Jason
★★★★★
Thank you Mike for doing an exceptional job. You were not only extremely professional but also kind,patient and understanding through an extremely difficult time. Thank you again. - Bryan
★★★★★
Mike is very sharp when it comes to understanding a case and how the legal system works. He also has integrity and a strong moral conviction which you won't always find when trying to find good legal counsel. - Camp Davis
★★★★★
Mike Malone was a pleasure to work with on a case involving negligence of another attorney in a real estate transaction. Mike was very eager to help us recover money lost in our case. Highly recommended! - Mariusz Stanczyk