Am I legally required to pay for an ambulance I neither requested nor made use of?

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Am I legally required to pay for an ambulance I neither requested nor made use of?

Last year I was involved in a single vehicle accident. An ambulance arrived on the scene without being summoned by me. I was not seriously injured and refused services. The ambulance crew insisted on checking my vital signs for ‘liability issues’.i refused transport to the hospital.

A week later I received a bill for ambulance services. When I called the company and explained why I wasn’t paying the bill they turned me over to collections. Am I somehow liable for these charges? Can I take action against them for putting a black mark on my credit rating?

Asked on June 25, 2019 under Accident Law, Oregon

Answers:

M.D., Member, California and New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney

Answered 4 years ago | Contributor

Ordinarily, if a person looks as though medical assistance may be needed for their treatment and an ambulance is called for that person, then they are required to pay for it even though they did not want the medical care provided. And, as you state, they EMT's did check your vital signs. That having been said, since you refused transport to a hospital, the amount that you were billed should reflect this. In other words, you should only have to pay for the check of your vital signs.

M.D., Member, California and New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney

Answered 4 years ago | Contributor

Ordinarily, if a person looks as though medical assistance may be needed for their treatment and an ambulance is called for that person, then they are required to pay for it even though they did not want the medical care provided. And, as you state, they EMT's did check your vital signs. That having been said, since you refused transport to a hospital, the amount that you were billed should reflect this. In other words, you should only have to pay for the check of your vital signs. 


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