Pursue Compensation For Future Medical Expenses
If you suffer a personal injury that requires medical attention even after your claim has been concluded, it might not be enough to seek compensation for only past medical expenses. If you suffer a personal injury that requires long-term medical care or at least medical care that extends beyond the conclusion of your personal injury claim, you need to seek compensation for both past and future medical expenses.
Understanding the Meaning of Future Medical Expenses
Future medical expenses are damages that are not always awarded in personal injury cases. Generally, not all personal injury victims qualify to be compensated for future medical expenses. Usually, such damages are awarded to victims who suffer extensive or life-changing injuries. Some injuries can be so severe that they need ongoing medical care, even after an injured party reaches maximum medical improvement (MMI). Suppose, even after reaching MMI (which is usually the point a personal injury victim needs to reach before settling their claim), a personal injury victim still experiences pain that requires more treatment. In such a case, the victim deserves to be compensated for future medical expenses they will incur as a result of that pain, as long as the pain is associated with the injury they suffered in their accident.
Proving a Claim for Future Medical Expenses
Since future medical expenses have still not been incurred, it can be challenging to prove such damages. However, an experienced personal injury attorney can help you prove future medical expenses. Fortunately, you and your attorney are not required to establish a claim for future medical expenses “beyond a reasonable doubt.” Instead, your attorney needs to show it is “more likely than not” that your future medical expenses will occur. To receive an award of future medical expense, you basically need to prove that your claim is within a reasonable degree of medical certainty. Your doctor and other healthcare providers can help you establish your claim. For example, your physician can help you by testifying about the medical care you will need in the future due to your injuries.
Examples of Future Medical Expenses
After your personal injury claim has been concluded, you may incur many different future treatment expenses. Future medical expenses may include, among many others, the following:
- Physical therapy
- Counseling
- Future surgeries
- Attendant care
- Prescription medication
- Medical assistive equipment
Calculating the Value of Future Medical Costs
Calculating the value of future medical expenses can be difficult. This is why you should work with a qualified attorney who is well-versed in calculating such costs. For instance, an experienced attorney will know the factors to consider when doing the calculation. Some of the factors that may influence the value of your future medical expenses include expected inflation rates, the existence of more affordable alternative care options, among many others. Attorneys also know who to work with to ensure they arrive at a figure that will enable victims to cater to their future medical expenses comfortably.
Contact Us for Legal Help
If you suffered a personal injury that could require long-term medical care or at least medical care that extends beyond the conclusion of your personal injury, consult our Orlando personal injury attorneys at The Pendas Law Firm. We can help you determine if you have a valid claim for future medical expenses. If you do, we can help you recover the compensation you deserve. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.
The Pendas Law Firm also represents clients in the Tampa, Fort Myers, Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Miami, Daytona Beach, Bradenton, Ocala, and West Palm Beach areas.
Resource:
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2709098/
