An accident can be an overwhelming, life-altering event, and having to think about your various medical expenses can make the situation all the more difficult. Whether you are dealing with emergency treatment, ongoing rehabilitation, or long-term care needs, understanding how these costs are calculated and what compensation you may be entitled to is crucial for your recovery.
What Types of Medical Expenses Should You Expect After an Accident?
Medical expenses quickly add up after an accident. These costs depend on the severity of injuries sustained and the type of care required. These expenses generally fall into three categories:
Immediate Medical Care
After an accident, getting to the hospital as quickly as possible is essential. Diagnostic procedures, including X-ray, MRI, and CT scans, are often required to identify and determine the degree of your injuries, ensuring you receive the necessary treatment. While it can be stressful to think about the financial burden this medical care entails, a successful personal injury claim can cover these expenses.
Ongoing Medical Care
Physical therapy and rehabilitation may be required as part of your recovery and are key to regaining normal movement and muscle strength. Prescriptions may also be required to manage pain or prevent other problems. In addition, you may be required to use a medical device, such as a wheelchair, crutches, or prosthetics.
Long-Term or Permanent Care
Long-term medical care costs need to be considered when an accident results in a lasting disability. You may need continuous care to lead an everyday life, such as in-home care aides who can help with basic personal needs like bathing, dressing, and eating.
Besides personal care, your house may need accessibility modifications, such as wheelchair ramps, widened doorways, or ADA bathroom upgrades. In cases where in-home support and modifications are not enough, you may need to move into an assisted living facility.
What Factors Affect Medical Costs?
When considering a personal injury claim, it is essential to think about the many factors that impact medical costs, including:
- Severity and Type of Injury: More severe injuries, such as brain and spinal cord injuries, will incur more significant expenses due to increased need for medical care, surgeries, more extended hospital stays, more frequent testing, and higher levels of care.
- Duration of Recovery: A prolonged recovery period will require more follow-up checkups and therapy, increasing expenses. Chronic injuries often involve lifelong medical appointments.
- Geographic Location: Medical costs vary regionally and between hospital networks. This is because certain medical services are only provided in certain regions. Travel, for instance to a metropolitan area, may be necessary to receive certain types of care.
- Insurance Coverage: The level of health insurance coverage a person has directly influences their out-of-pocket medical expenses.
How Do You Calculate Compensation for a Personal Injury Case?
Calculating the appropriate compensation for a personal injury case is daunting, especially when injuries are severe or require long-term care. Luckily, you don’t have to do this alone. Here are three steps our personal injury lawyers use to help estimate your claim:
Calculating Current Expenses
Account for all medical bills you have received due to the accident. This must include all hospital fees, medication expenses, and charges for therapy sessions, physical or otherwise. Keep copies of all statements, receipts, and invoices. Organize these documents by date and categorize them based on the type of service provided. Also, record any payments you have made towards these bills, as you may need this information during the claim process.
Determining Future Medical Needs
You should also consider the cost of future medical needs, such as prescriptions, follow-up doctor’s appointments, medically necessary changes in your home, in-home assistance, and any other services you may need as your condition progresses. There is also the possibility of needing to replace some medical devices, like wheelchairs, as they become worn, which may affect your budget in the future.
Accounting for Non-Medical Costs
Evaluating the financial effects of an accident beyond medical expenses is paramount. For example, you may have lost wages due to missing work. In addition, expenses associated with traveling to receive care, such as the cost of gas and meals, should also be considered. There are also some damages that are more challenging to quantify, like pain and suffering, but which you may receive compensation for as part of a settlement.
The Importance of Working With a Personal Injury Lawyer
There is a lot involved in the process of pursuing a personal injury accident claim. Our personal injury attorneys navigate the challenging legal complexities of a personal injury claim so you don’t have to, especially while recovering. Hiring a personal injury lawyer can make a significant difference in your case and help with many aspects:
- Estimating the Full Value of Your Case: Experienced attorneys assess economic and non-economic damages, ensuring you seek fair compensation for all losses.
- Negotiating With Insurance Companies: Insurance adjusters often aim to minimize payouts. A lawyer can advocate to secure a settlement that accurately reflects the impact your injuries have had on your life.
- Building and Filing a Lawsuit When Necessary: If you cannot reach a personal injury settlement, a skilled attorney will prepare and present your case in court to fight for the justice you deserve.
Talk To Our Chicago Personal Injury Attorneys About Your Accident Case
Power Rogers helps individuals and families after an accident, providing guidance and support to seek justice and compensation for their injuries. Our dedicated Chicago-based legal team guides each client through every step of the recovery and compensation process. You do not have to face this journey alone. Contact Power Rogers, and let us help you seek the compensation you deserve and confidently move forward.
