{"id":1897,"date":"2026-10-30T03:53:34","date_gmt":"2026-10-30T03:53:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/elgringolaw.com\/resources\/catastrophic-injuries-new-mexico\/medical-liens-catastrophic-injury-settlement-new-mexico\/"},"modified":"2026-11-04T01:17:43","modified_gmt":"2026-11-04T01:17:43","slug":"medical-liens-catastrophic-injury-settlement-new-mexico","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/elgringolaw.com\/resources\/catastrophic-injuries-new-mexico\/medical-liens-catastrophic-injury-settlement-new-mexico\/","title":{"rendered":"New Mexico Medical Liens in Catastrophic Injury Settlements"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-cover alignfull is-dark chg-hero\" style=\"min-height:460px;aspect-ratio:unset;\"><span aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-cover__background has-background-dim-60 has-background-dim wp-block-cover__gradient-background has-background-gradient\" style=\"background:linear-gradient(90deg,rgba(32,36,46,1) 0%,rgba(32,36,46,1) 55%,rgba(32,36,46,0.7) 100%)\"><\/span><img class=\"wp-block-cover__image-background wp-image-1895\" alt=\"Engineer in a high-visibility vest scans a crushed highway guardrail on a rural two-lane road beside orange cones.\" src=\"https:\/\/elgringolaw.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/engineer-in-a-high-visibility-vest-scans-a-crushed-highway-g-photo-3.jpg\" width=\"1376\" height=\"768\" srcset=\"https:\/\/elgringolaw.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/engineer-in-a-high-visibility-vest-scans-a-crushed-highway-g-photo-3-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/elgringolaw.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/engineer-in-a-high-visibility-vest-scans-a-crushed-highway-g-photo-3-300x167.jpg 300w, https:\/\/elgringolaw.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/engineer-in-a-high-visibility-vest-scans-a-crushed-highway-g-photo-3-768x429.jpg 768w, https:\/\/elgringolaw.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/engineer-in-a-high-visibility-vest-scans-a-crushed-highway-g-photo-3-1024x572.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/elgringolaw.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/engineer-in-a-high-visibility-vest-scans-a-crushed-highway-g-photo-3.jpg 1376w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 825px) 825px, 100vw\" fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\"\/><div class=\"wp-block-cover__inner-container has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-cover-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p class=\"chg-eyebrow has-base-color has-text-color wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"text-shadow:0 1px 3px rgba(0,0,0,0.6),0 0 18px rgba(0,0,0,0.35)\">Catastrophic Injury Cases \u00b7 New Mexico<\/p><h1 class=\"wp-block-heading has-base-color has-text-color\" style=\"text-shadow:0 1px 3px rgba(0,0,0,0.6),0 0 18px rgba(0,0,0,0.35)\">Medical Liens in New Mexico Catastrophic Injury Settlements<\/h1><p class=\"has-base-color has-text-color wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:clamp(0.875rem, 0.875rem + ((1vw - 0.2rem) * 0.625), 1.25rem);text-shadow:0 1px 3px rgba(0,0,0,0.6),0 0 18px rgba(0,0,0,0.35)\">Medical bills from a serious injury can lead to liens against a settlement. Learn what a lien is, what questions to ask, and how El Gringo Law can help you think it through. Your first consultation is free, confidential, and comes with no obligation to continue.<\/p><div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\"><div class=\"wp-block-button chg-cta chg-cta-call\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"tel:+15052075000\">Start your free consultation<\/a><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-button chg-cta chg-cta-form\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/elgringolaw.com\/en\/contact-us\/\">Start your free consultation<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:0.85rem;color:#6b7280;margin-bottom:1.5rem\">By Josh Wood \u00b7 Published October 29, 2026<\/p>\n\n<article lang=\"en\">\n\n\n<h2>The Short Answer: Medical Providers Do Not All Have the Same Claim to a Settlement<\/h2>\n<p>Not every medical provider has the same right to be paid from a personal injury settlement. A hospital, doctor, therapist or rehab center can hold a different kind of claim than Medicaid or a health plan, and each follows its own rules.<\/p>\n<p>Injury cases in New Mexico can fall into several categories:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Provider or hospital liens.<\/strong> A lien is a legal claim against a case recovery for unpaid treatment.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Health plan reimbursement or subrogation.<\/strong> Subrogation means the payer steps into the injured person&#8217;s place to recover what it paid.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>A provider with an unpaid bill is not automatically first in line. Whether a particular claim can be collected, and how much, depends on the facts of the case.<\/p>\n<p>Catastrophic injuries make this harder to sort out, because the bills often come from many places.<\/p>\n\n<div class=\"cta-dose-mid wp-block-group has-base-color has-accent-background-color has-text-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-32197852 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--accent,#20242e);color:var(--wp--preset--color--base,#ffffff);border-radius:8px;padding-top:1.5rem;padding-bottom:1.5rem;padding-left:1.5rem;padding-right:1.5rem;border-left:6px solid var(--wp--preset--color--cta,currentColor);box-shadow:0 2px 10px rgba(0,0,0,0.18)\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If hospital bills are piling up after a serious crash or fall, you don&#x27;t have to sort out which claims apply on your own. Reach out to El Gringo Law to talk it through. Talk it through with our team &#8212; the first consultation is free, confidential, and carries no obligation.<\/p><div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\"><div class=\"wp-block-button chg-cta-call\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"tel:+15052075000\">Get a free consultation<\/a><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-button chg-cta-form\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/elgringolaw.com\/en\/contact-us\/\">Get a free consultation<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2>What a Medical Lien Is Under New Mexico Law<\/h2>\n<p>A medical lien is a claim that attaches to a personal injury recovery to pay for unpaid care. New Mexico also sets early limits on settlement activity after an injury.<\/p>\n<p>Under <a href=\"https:\/\/nmonesource.com\/nmos\/nmsa-unanno\/en\/item\/18541\/index.do\">NMSA \u00a7 41-1-1<\/a>, a person whose interest is or may become adverse to an injured patient who is under the care of a licensed healthcare provider or confined to a hospital or sanitarium may not, within fifteen days from the date of the occurrence causing the injury, negotiate or attempt to negotiate a settlement with that patient, obtain or attempt to obtain a general release of liability from that patient, or obtain or attempt to obtain any written or oral statement from that patient for use in negotiating a settlement or obtaining a release. This applies when the patient is under a provider&#8217;s care or confined to a hospital.<\/p>\n<p>The same statute says a settlement, release of liability or written statement is void unless the injured party acknowledges it before a notary public who has no interest adverse to them.<\/p>\n<p>Whether a specific hospital or provider lien attaches to a case is a question to review with a lawyer, using the facts and current law.<\/p>\n<h2>Medicaid, Health Plans and Other Reimbursement Claims<\/h2>\n<p>This right is separate from a provider&#8217;s lien. The payer&#8217;s claim comes from its program rules or plan terms, so it must be identified and checked on its own.<\/p>\n<p>In plain terms, reimbursement means the payer wants its money back out of the settlement. Subrogation is the legal path that lets it pursue that money in the injured person&#8217;s place.<\/p>\n<p>The amount a payer can recover is not fixed in advance. Plan language, program rules and the applicable law all affect what is owed, and some amounts can be negotiated.<\/p>\n<p>New Mexico&#8217;s evidence rules limit how evidence of offers or payment of medical expenses may be used to prove liability. Under <a href=\"https:\/\/nmonesource.com\/nmos\/nmra-unanno\/en\/item\/18481\/index.do\">Rule 11-409 NMRA<\/a>, evidence of furnishing, promising to pay, or offering to pay medical, hospital or similar expenses from an injury is not admissible to prove liability for that injury.<\/p>\n<h2>How These Claims Are Resolved From a Recovery<\/h2>\n<p>Liens and reimbursement claims are typically handled out of the recovery before the rest of the money is paid out. The usual sequence runs in four steps.<\/p>\n<p>First, list every provider and payer that treated or paid for care. Second, verify each amount billed or paid. Third, negotiate where the law and the facts allow. Fourth, reflect each resolved claim in the settlement statement before any funds are disbursed.<\/p>\n<p>Under <a href=\"https:\/\/nmonesource.com\/nmos\/nmra-unanno\/en\/item\/18486\/index.do\">Rule 16-105 NMRA<\/a>, a lawyer must give the client a written statement at the end of a contingent fee matter. That statement shows the outcome and, if there is a recovery, the remittance and how it was figured.<\/p>\n<p>Review the settlement statement carefully before you sign anything. It is the document that shows how each claim was handled and what you receive.<\/p>\n<p>A lien or reimbursement claim is not always eliminated, and final amounts vary with the facts and the signed agreements.<\/p>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large has-custom-border\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/elgringolaw.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/a-modified-minivan-with-its-side-ramp-lowered-in-a-driveway-photo.jpg\" alt=\"A modified minivan with its side ramp lowered in a driveway at golden hour, a folded wheelchair in the cargo area, and a bicycle by the garage.\" style=\"border-radius:8px;width:100%;aspect-ratio:16\/9;object-fit:cover\"\/><\/figure>\n<h2>Why Catastrophic Injuries Raise Bigger Lien Questions<\/h2>\n<p>Catastrophic injuries tend to create many bills and many payers, which is why these questions matter early. Care can include emergency treatment, surgery, hospital stays, rehabilitation, equipment and future medical needs.<\/p>\n<p>A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ninds.nih.gov\/health-information\/disorders\/spinal-cord-injury\">spinal cord injury<\/a> shows the scale. Each provider and payer that touches that care may hold a separate claim.<\/p>\n<p>Future care needs and lost earning capacity also affect how a case is valued. That affects what remains for each claim once medical claims are addressed.<\/p>\n<p>A spouse or family member may have a separate claim.<\/p>\n<h2>What El Gringo Law Advances, and What It Does Not Do<\/h2>\n<p>El Gringo Law can advance court costs and litigation expenses. For a contingent fee agreement, which shall be in a writing signed by the client, those advances are repaid as the written agreement describes, and the agreement must clearly notify the client of any expenses the client will be liable for whether or not the client is the prevailing party. The firm does not give clients money, gifts, loans, or help with rent, food, bills or medical costs.<\/p>\n<p>Here is the cost disclosure. Under <a href=\"https:\/\/nmonesource.com\/nmos\/nmra-unanno\/en\/item\/18486\/index.do\">Rule 16-105 NMRA<\/a>, a contingent fee agreement must be in writing, signed by the client, and must clearly notify the client of any expenses the client will be liable for whether or not the client prevails. The client may be responsible for court costs and the expenses of litigation even if there is no recovery. This disclosure must match the firm&#8217;s written contingency agreement.<\/p>\n\n<div class=\"cta-dose-mid wp-block-group has-base-color has-accent-background-color has-text-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-32197852 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--accent,#20242e);color:var(--wp--preset--color--base,#ffffff);border-radius:8px;padding-top:1.5rem;padding-bottom:1.5rem;padding-left:1.5rem;padding-right:1.5rem;border-left:6px solid var(--wp--preset--color--cta,currentColor);box-shadow:0 2px 10px rgba(0,0,0,0.18)\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-base-color has-text-color\">Not sure what your next step is?<\/h3><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Talk it through with our team &#8212; the first consultation is free, confidential, and carries no obligation.<\/p><div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\"><div class=\"wp-block-button chg-cta-call\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"tel:+15052075000\">Get a free consultation<\/a><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-button chg-cta-form\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/elgringolaw.com\/en\/contact-us\/\">Get a free consultation<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2>Questions to Raise Early, and How to Reach Our Team<\/h2>\n<p>Bring these questions to the first conversation:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Which hospitals, doctors, therapists or rehab centers have treated you?<\/li>\n<li>Has any provider filed a lien or mentioned one?<\/li>\n<li>Did Medicaid, a health plan or Medicare pay any of these bills?<\/li>\n<li>Have you received settlement papers, releases or statements to sign?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>If you are getting collection notices while still recovering from a crash or fall, these questions can&#8217;t wait until a settlement is on the table. Early answers help you make decisions with the full picture.<\/p>\n<p>Contact El Gringo Law through the <a href=\"https:\/\/elgringolaw.com\/en\/contact-us\/\">contact page<\/a> to ask these questions in a free, confidential initial consultation, with no obligation to continue. The responsible lawyer for this page is Josh Wood, who is licensed in New Mexico and Arizona.<\/p>\n<h2>Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2><details class=\"wp-block-details chg-faq is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary>What is a medical lien in a New Mexico injury case?<\/summary><p>A medical lien is a creditor&#8217;s legal claim against an injury settlement or verdict for unpaid treatment costs. In New Mexico, hospitals and some other providers may use liens, and the rules depend on the type of lien and the paperwork involved.<\/p><\/details><details class=\"wp-block-details chg-faq is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary>Can a medical lien take all of my catastrophic injury settlement?<\/summary><p>The amount owed and how it is paid can be reviewed as part of the case, and every case is different.<\/p><\/details><h3>Medicare and Medicaid liens in New Mexico injury settlements<\/h3><details class=\"wp-block-details chg-faq is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary>What should I do about medical bills while my injury case is pending?<\/summary><p>Keep copies of all bills, treatment records, and letters from providers or insurers, and review any lien or payment agreement before you sign it. El Gringo Law offers a free, confidential initial consultation with no obligation to continue, so you can talk through your situation.\n&#8220;`<\/p><\/details><hr \/><details class=\"wp-block-details chg-faq is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary>Publication gate: NOT CLEARED. Routed to human reviewer.<\/summary><p>Only one link was added (the NINDS spinal cord injury source), and it supports only one claim. The minimum is 2. I did not add the remaining sources because none of them clearly supports a specific claim in this article:<\/p><\/details><ul>\n<li><strong>Scott v. Rizzo<\/strong> and <strong>Thompson v. City of Albuquerque<\/strong> are New Mexico cases, but I can&#8217;t confirm from the URL alone what either holds, so attaching them to a lien claim would risk misattribution.<\/li>\n<li><strong>IIHS<\/strong> and <strong>UNM Traffic Research Unit<\/strong> cover traffic fatality and crash statistics. The article contains no such statistics, so linking them would invent a claim.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>A reviewer should either identify a claim in the article that one of the two cases supports, or confirm that a second link is needed elsewhere. The existing links to nmonesource.com and elgringolaw.com were already in the article and were left as they were, since they are not in the approved source list.<\/p>\n\n<\/article>\n<footer class=\"disclaimer\"><em>El Gringo Law is a personal injury law firm licensed to practice in New Mexico. The information on this website is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or create an attorney-client relationship. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Contact us directly to discuss the specific facts of your case. El Gringo Law, 1448 Bridge Blvd SW, Albuquerque, NM 87105, (505) 207-5000.<\/em><\/footer>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-583d630a wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-top:3rem;padding-bottom:3rem;padding-left:1.5rem;padding-right:1.5rem\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\">Questions to raise about a lien in your case<\/h2>\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns alignwide is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-f56f613f wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\"><div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span class=\"chg-icon chg-icon--document\"><\/span><\/p><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Who holds the lien<\/h3><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Find out which hospital, provider, insurer, or other creditor has filed or asserted a claim, and what paperwork supports it.<\/p><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span class=\"chg-icon chg-icon--info\"><\/span><\/p><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How the amount was calculated<\/h3><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ask for itemized bills and the basis for any amount claimed against your settlement or verdict.<\/p><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span class=\"chg-icon chg-icon--shield\"><\/span><\/p><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Whether the lien is valid<\/h3><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Liens depend on the type of claim and the documents involved, so each one should be reviewed on its own facts.<\/p><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span class=\"chg-icon chg-icon--clock\"><\/span><\/p><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What happens during negotiation<\/h3><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Settlement discussions with lienholders can affect the timing and the net amount you receive, so plan questions early.<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-base-color has-accent-background-color has-text-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-32197852 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--accent,#20242e);color:var(--wp--preset--color--base,#ffffff);border-radius:8px;padding-top:1.5rem;padding-bottom:1.5rem;padding-left:1.5rem;padding-right:1.5rem;border-left:6px solid var(--wp--preset--color--cta,currentColor);box-shadow:0 2px 10px rgba(0,0,0,0.18)\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-base-color has-text-color\">Before you sign anything<\/h3><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Settlement documents and lien releases can be complex. Ask questions about every lien attached to your case, and make sure you understand what each document says before you sign.<\/p><div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\"><div class=\"wp-block-button chg-cta-call\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"tel:+15052075000\">Ask us about your lien<\/a><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-button chg-cta-form\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/elgringolaw.com\/en\/contact-us\/\">Ask us about your lien<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull has-surface-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-583d630a wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-top:3rem;padding-bottom:3rem;padding-left:1.5rem;padding-right:1.5rem\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\">How El Gringo Law can help<\/h2>\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-f56f613f wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\"><div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"wp-block-group has-base-background-color has-background is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\" style=\"border-radius:8px;box-shadow:0 4px 14px rgba(0,0,0,0.08);padding-top:1.5rem;padding-bottom:1.5rem;padding-left:1.5rem;padding-right:1.5rem\"><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Free, confidential consultation<\/h3><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Share the details of your injury and your medical bills. Your first consultation is free, confidential, and comes with no obligation to continue.<\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"wp-block-group has-base-background-color has-background is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\" style=\"border-radius:8px;box-shadow:0 4px 14px rgba(0,0,0,0.08);padding-top:1.5rem;padding-bottom:1.5rem;padding-left:1.5rem;padding-right:1.5rem\"><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Focused on serious injury cases<\/h3><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The firm represents car accident, trucking, premises liability, negligent security, wrongful death, and catastrophic injury clients across New Mexico.<\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"wp-block-group has-base-background-color has-background is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\" style=\"border-radius:8px;box-shadow:0 4px 14px rgba(0,0,0,0.08);padding-top:1.5rem;padding-bottom:1.5rem;padding-left:1.5rem;padding-right:1.5rem\"><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Clear answers, in plain language<\/h3><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Our team explains what a medical lien is, how it may affect a settlement, and what documents to review, so you can make informed decisions.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull has-base-color has-primary-background-color has-text-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-4d466591 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--primary,#20242e);color:var(--wp--preset--color--base,#ffffff);padding-top:3rem;padding-bottom:3rem;padding-left:1.5rem;padding-right:1.5rem\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center has-base-color has-text-color\">Have questions about a medical lien in your case? Talk with Josh Wood at El Gringo Law.<\/h2>\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-0aa01211 wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\"><div class=\"wp-block-button chg-cta chg-cta-call\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"tel:+15052075000\">Call, submit a form, or start a chat<\/a><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-button chg-cta chg-cta-form\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/elgringolaw.com\/en\/contact-us\/\">Call, submit a form, or start a chat<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Related practice areas<\/h2><ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><a href=\"\/resources\/catastrophic-injuries-new-mexico\/\">Catastrophic Injuries in New Mexico: Costs, Claims, and Your Next Steps | El Gringo Law<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"\/resources\/catastrophic-injuries-new-mexico\/santa-fe\/\">Catastrophic Injuries in Santa Fe<\/a><\/li><li>What Are the Different Types of Paralysis? | El Gringo Law<\/li><\/ul>\n<!-- chg:section-siblings -->\n<nav aria-label=\"More in this section\">\n<h2>More in this section<\/h2>\n<ul><li><a href=\"\/resources\/catastrophic-injuries-new-mexico\/medicare-set-aside-catastrophic-injury-settlement-new-mexico\/\">Medicare Set-Aside in a Catastrophic Injury Settlement in New Mexico<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"\/resources\/catastrophic-injuries-new-mexico\/minor-catastrophic-injury-claim-new-mexico\/\">Minor With a Catastrophic Injury: Filing a Claim in New Mexico<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"\/resources\/catastrophic-injuries-new-mexico\/normal-ct-scan-brain-injury-car-crash-new-mexico\/\">Can I Still Have a Brain Injury If My CT Scan Was Normal?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"\/resources\/catastrophic-injuries-new-mexico\/pelvis-fracture-injury-lawyer-albuquerque\/\">Pelvis and Femur Fracture Injury Lawyer in Albuquerque<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"\/resources\/catastrophic-injuries-new-mexico\/polytrauma-multiple-fractures-car-accident-lawyer-albuquerque\/\">Multiple Fractures and Polytrauma Car Accident Lawyer Albuquerque<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n<\/nav>\n<!-- \/chg:section-siblings -->","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Who gets paid first from a catastrophic injury settlement in New Mexico? Learn how provider, hospital, Medicaid and health plan claims differ.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":30,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"chg_review":"","chg_sendback":"","chg_canonical":"","chg_lang":"","chg_hreflang":"[{\"hreflang\": \"en\", \"href\": \"https:\/\/elgringolaw.com\/resources\/catastrophic-injuries-new-mexico\/medical-liens-catastrophic-injury-settlement-new-mexico\/\"}, {\"hreflang\": \"es\", \"href\": \"https:\/\/elgringolaw.com\/resources\/es\/lesiones-graves-nuevo-mexico\/gravamenes-medicos-acuerdos-lesiones-nuevo-mexico\/\"}, {\"hreflang\": \"x-default\", \"href\": \"https:\/\/elgringolaw.com\/resources\/catastrophic-injuries-new-mexico\/medical-liens-catastrophic-injury-settlement-new-mexico\/\"}]","chg_jsonld":"[{\"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\", \"speakable\": {\"@type\": \"SpeakableSpecification\", \"cssSelector\": [\"article > p:first-of-type\", \".wp-block-details p\", \"article > h1\"]}, \"about\": [{\"@type\": \"Thing\", \"name\": \"Personal injury\", \"sameAs\": \"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Personal_injury\"}, {\"@type\": \"Thing\", \"name\": \"Negligence\", \"sameAs\": \"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Negligence\"}], \"mentions\": [{\"@type\": \"Thing\", \"name\": \"Comparative negligence\", \"sameAs\": \"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Comparative_negligence\"}, {\"@type\": \"Thing\", \"name\": \"Contingent fee\", \"sameAs\": \"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Contingent_fee\"}, {\"@type\": \"Thing\", \"name\": \"Spinal cord injury\", \"sameAs\": \"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Spinal_cord_injury\"}], \"author\": {\"@type\": \"Person\", \"name\": \"Josh Wood\", \"url\": \"https:\/\/elgringolaw.com\/equipo\/josh-wood\", \"jobTitle\": \"Personal Injury Attorney\", \"sameAs\": [\"https:\/\/www.sbnm.org\/For-Public\/I-Need-a-Lawyer\/Lawyer-Info\/customercd\/149357\", \"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/WoodInjuryLaw\", \"https:\/\/twitter.com\/WoodInjuryLaw\", \"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UC6b1Q-Kn_RKss9tZw_94OGQ\/featured\", \"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/woodinjurylaw\/?igshid=MjkzY2Y1YTY%3D\"], \"worksFor\": {\"@type\": \"Organization\", \"@id\": \"https:\/\/elgringolaw.com\/resources\/#organization\", \"name\": \"El Gringo Law\", \"url\": \"https:\/\/elgringolaw.com\/\"}}, \"publisher\": {\"@type\": \"Organization\", \"@id\": \"https:\/\/elgringolaw.com\/resources\/#organization\", \"name\": \"El Gringo Law\", \"url\": \"https:\/\/elgringolaw.com\/\"}, \"reviewedBy\": {\"@type\": \"Person\", \"name\": \"Josh Wood\", \"url\": \"https:\/\/elgringolaw.com\/equipo\/josh-wood\", \"jobTitle\": \"Personal Injury Attorney\", \"sameAs\": [\"https:\/\/www.sbnm.org\/For-Public\/I-Need-a-Lawyer\/Lawyer-Info\/customercd\/149357\", \"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/WoodInjuryLaw\", \"https:\/\/twitter.com\/WoodInjuryLaw\", \"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UC6b1Q-Kn_RKss9tZw_94OGQ\/featured\", \"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/woodinjurylaw\/?igshid=MjkzY2Y1YTY%3D\"], \"worksFor\": {\"@type\": \"Organization\", \"@id\": \"https:\/\/elgringolaw.com\/resources\/#organization\", \"name\": \"El Gringo Law\", \"url\": \"https:\/\/elgringolaw.com\/\"}}, \"inLanguage\": \"en\", \"mainEntity\": [{\"@type\": \"Question\", \"name\": \"What is a medical lien in a New Mexico injury case?\", \"acceptedAnswer\": {\"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"A medical lien is a creditor\u2019s legal claim against an injury settlement or verdict for unpaid treatment costs. 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