Not all accident victims recover by the time their personal injury lawsuit is settled. Some will need additional care long after a case concludes and those future medical expenses need to be a part of the conversation. If you or a loved one have been seriously hurt in an accident and you’re worried about paying for additional medical care in the future, contact a Washington D.C. brain injury lawyer from our firm. We’ll help you negotiate for the compensation you deserve.
What Kinds of Future Medical Expenses Need to Be Factored In?
There are all kinds of future medical expenses that an accident victim may need to account for. You may have to pay for things like:
- Additional surgeries
- Follow-up visits
- Prescription medications
- Tests and evaluations
- Physical therapy
- Mental health care
- Home health aides or nursing home care
There are also additional, related expenses to think about. You have to pay for transport to all of these appointments. You may need to modify your home with additions like ramps or handrails. Any expenses like these should also be part of the settlement negotiations.
How Can These Future Medical Expenses Be Calculated?
Your attorney can take one of two approaches here. The “additional expense” method can be used when you need additional medical care, but not for long. They can calculate the cost of the procedures and treatments that you are likely to need in the near future and factor those into negotiations.
If you have injuries that could require additional treatment for years or the rest of your life, that can make it tougher to do the math. It’s necessary to consider what kind of care you’ll need and how the expenses could get higher over time. It’s often a good idea to work with someone like a lifecare planning expert who can help you and your lawyer figure out roughly how much compensation you should ask for.
How Can You Make Your Case For These Damages?
It can be easier to get an insurer to pay for past medical expenses. You have obvious evidence for that, like bills and medical records. It can be tougher for them to pay for future medical expenses. They may try to claim that your lawyer’s estimates are too high or that you won’t need as much care as you think.
This is when the testimony of experts can help. Medical experts can talk about your injuries, which treatments you’ll need, and what adjustments you may have to make. Lifecare planning experts can speak with authority about the cost of medical care and what kinds of future medical expenses you are likely facing.
Talk to an Attorney Today
If you believe that you or your loved one will need additional medical care in the future, contact Trombly & Singer, PLLC. We can schedule a consultation and tell you more about your legal options. We want to help you fight for a compensation offer that includes future medical expenses and everything else that you need.
