If you have been injured due to someone else’s negligence, you are entitled to pursue legal action to pursue compensation from the at-fault party. Personal injury lawsuits are intended to recover compensable losses. Essentially, these are damages that you have suffered as a result of your injuries. For many accident victims, one of the most pressing concerns is the financial burden of medical treatment. Depending on the severity of your damages, you may require long-term care. If this reflects your circumstances, please continue reading to learn how future medical expenses are calculated in personal injury settlements and why connecting with our qualified Essex County Personal Injury Attorneys is in your best interest.
What Are Future Medical Expenses?
When you suffer an injury due to the negligent actions of another party, it’s not uncommon to require medical treatment. However, depending on the severity of your injuries, you may require additional or continuous medical care for months and even years after the accident. As such, future medical expenses refer to the expenses you are expected to incur for your medical care after you settle your personal injury claim. For those who have reached maximum medical improvement (MMI) by the time their claim is resolved, they may not need compensation for future medical care. Victims who are not expected to regain full function before they resolve their case may be entitled to compensation for this economic damage. Some of the common forms of future medical care include but are not limited to the following:
- Hospitalizations
- Prescription medications
- Follow-up appointments
- Surgeries
- Physical and rehabilitative therapy
- Assistive or adaptive devices (wheelchair, crutches, etc.)
- In-home nursing services
- Transportation to medical appointments
- Therapy or psychiatric services
How is This Cost Calculated?
Accurately calculating the cost of future medical expenses can be incredibly difficult, especially if both parties disagree on the amount. In many cases, the court will turn to the total lifestyle approach or the additional expense method. The total lifestyle approach assumes even when you reach MI you will still never reach the pre-accident level of functioning. This approach involves a detailed life care plan to calculate ongoing expenses, covering their needs throughout their life expectancy. The additional expense method, on the other hand, is used if you are facing temporary medical expenses but are expected to recover from your former lifestyle. Each additional expenditure will be itemized to estimate the total claim for future medical expenses.
If you have been seriously injured in an accident, please don’t hesitate to contact an experienced attorney from The Law Offices of Christopher T. Howell, Esq., who can help you fight for the full and fair compensation to which you are entitled. Connect with our firm today to discuss your case.
