The medical provider had a lien on your recovery. Since you did not recover any money, you owe the medical provider for the service that you asked for and received. The lien is not the issue. The medical provider will have to get a judgment against you before it can garnish wages, levy bank accounts or take other judgment collection actions. Short of filing and proceeding with a lawsuit to get a judgment, the creditor can ask you to pay. It can send you invoices, notices, collection letters. It can call you at home or at work if you let them. If you are unable to pay and otherwise can benefit from bankruptcy protection, you will be able to get relief from the obligation to pay.
Answered on Jan 14th, 2013 at 7:20 PM