Accidents happen, and if you’re unfortunately injured due to someone else’s negligence in Texas, the medical bills can pile up quickly. Injury victims can pursue financial compensation for the losses they’ve suffered in Texas.
However, what many personal injury victims may not realize is that they should also include future medical expenses they will incur in their claim, not just those they already have. To ensure you’re fully compensated for the care you’ll require now and years later, call Kemmy Law Firm today and learn more about how we can maximize the value of your claim.
What Are Future Medical Expenses?
Recovering from a serious injury can be a long and arduous process, often requiring ongoing medical treatment, rehabilitation, and medication. When that injury is the result of someone else’s negligence, you have the right to seek full financial compensation – not just for your past medical bills, but also for the future expenses you’ll incur.
However, obtaining the full value of future medical expenses can be a complex process that requires gathering documentation, presenting expert testimony, and skillfully negotiating with insurance companies.
Common Future Medical Costs
Some of the most common examples of future medical costs include:
- Assistive equipment including wheelchairs
- Prescription costs
- Follow-up care
- Physical therapy and rehabilitation
- Surgeries and hospitalization
- In-home care
- Home modifications such as wheelchair ramps
- Transportation to and from treatment
- Mental health treatment
- Follow-up appointments with your medical provider
Why Do You Need Compensation for Future Medical Costs?
Nearly one-third of Americans are dealing with healthcare-related debt. With healthcare costs so high, you should never be expected to pay for the injuries you suffered due to someone else’s negligence.
Though you may be tempted to take the first settlement offer you receive, don’t be tricked into accepting less than what you should. After a settlement is finalized, you can’t go back and ask for more money later, even if your condition worsens and you have to deal with unanticipated complications. That’s why it’s critical to accurately estimate your future medical expenses and ensure your settlement full accounts for your long-term care needs.
How Does Your Injury Affect Future Medical Expenses?
Not every personal injury case needs to account for future medical expenses. For example, a spinal cord injury or traumatic brain injury might require much more monitoring and ongoing treatment compared to a broken arm. For this reason, the severity of your injury can impact whether future medical expenses should be accounted for in your personal injury claim.
More severe injuries that will require extensive surgery, lengthy rehabilitation, or lifelong prescription medication will have significant future costs that should be included. Your personal injury attorney can work with your doctor and other medical experts to assess the severity of your injury and determine which future medical expenses should be valued in your claim..
How Are Future Medical Costs Determined?
Determining future medical expenses in a personal injury case typically involved a combination of methods such as:
Medical Expert Testimony
Doctors, specialists, and other healthcare providers will provide insight on your current and anticipated medical needs. These medical experts will share their opinion on the types of treatments, procedures, and care you likely require over your lifetime and estimate the costs of these services based on current and projected future costs.
Financial Analysis
Economists and other financial experts can analyze and calculate your projected future medical costs while accounting for the time value of money, inflation, and other economic factors. Your past and current bills can serve as a baseline for future costs of similar treatments.
Life Care Planning
Cases involving serious injuries may also include the creation of a life care plan created by a nurse or other medical professionals and presented to the judge or jury. The life care plan outlines your projected future medical, rehabilitative, and lifestyle needs, along with the associated costs. The plan considers factors such as the severity of your injury and the expected progression of your condition.
Dealing with the Insurance Company: How Your Attorney Can Help
Dealing with the insurance company regarding future medical expenses in your personal injury claim can be tricky. Insurnace companies have a financial incentive to downplay the severity of your injuries of claim they’re pre-existing, which is why they’ll seek to settle your case quickly. A personal injury attorney can handle all negotiations with the insurance company on your behalf and ensure your future medical expenses are considered.
A lawyer can accomplish this by:
- Gathering documentation to prove the severity of your injury
- Enlisting the help of reputable expert witnesses to support your claim
- Navigating disputes and challenges by the insurer
- Providing guidance on structured settlements, ensuring consistent income for long-term needs
Ultimately, your attorney can put all the evidence together and present a compelling case to fight to recover compensation on your behalf. They have the knowledge, experience, and negotiation skills to ensure your future medical expenses are fully accounted for, maximizing your chances of a successful recovery.
Call Kemmy Law Firm for Help Recovering Full Compensation
The best way to be sure that the your claim is exhaustively assessed to its fullest value, including future medical expenses, is to work with an experienced personal injury attorney in Texas.
Kemmy Law Firm has decades of experience representing injury victims like you, and we recognize how important it is to ensure current and future medical bills are accounted for. We’ll handle all the legal details so you can focus on healing knowing you’re protected from future financial hardship due to unanticipated medical expenses from your injury.
Call (830) 264-6297 today or contact us to schedule a free consultation.
Kemmy Law Firm serves clients across Texas and New Mexico:
Personal Injury Attorneys in Odessa, Texas
101 N Jackson Ave
Odessa, Texas 79761
Personal Injury Attorneys in San Antonio, Texas
1924 N Main Ave
San Antonio, Texas 78212
The post Can I Get Compensation for Future Medical Expenses in Texas? appeared first on Kemmy Law Firm.
