If you’ve been injured in a car accident and are trying to calculate future medical expenses, you need to speak with an experienced car accident lawyer right away. Contact us online or call to schedule your free consultation.
Brad Parker, the founder of Parker Law Firm, tells us how to determine the value of a claim after being involved in an accident.
There are many factors that must be considered when determining the amount, you are owed following a car accident. When estimating how much an injury claim is worth, many attorneys and insurance companies use a formula to estimate the value of an injury and determine a starting point for their negotiations. Three separate numbers need to be determined to make these calculations: special damages, medical special damages, and general damages.
Future medical expenses can include many different factors, including:
There are several other factors besides the types of future treatment that must be considered, including:
An experienced car accident attorney will know how to estimate future medical expenses. A lot depends on the details of your condition. Here are two of the most common methods of calculating future medical expenses.
For insurance companies, future medical expenses are almost always regarded as more speculative than actual expenses you’ve incurred. People sometimes make spontaneous recoveries and may not need to use the money that’s been predicted by experts or treating physicians. Be aware that insurance companies are far more likely to agree to compensate you for what is, rather than what might be.
Our car accident attorneys will work closely with you, your doctors, and the insurance company to make sure any future expenses you might have will be covered. Be aware that settlement negotiations may not always go smoothly. Where large future medical expenses are involved, trial is often more likely.
In addition to past and future medical expenses, you may be entitled to recover compensation for damages such as:
You don’t need to prove your future medical expenses beyond a reasonable doubt. You only need to prove their reasonable likelihood. Most personal injury cases are resolved through settlement. In settlement negotiations, your experts can give sworn statements outside of court, known as a deposition. The other side will offer a generous settlement if they believe their alternative is to lose in court. The main methods for proving future medical expenses, both at trial and during settlement negotiations, are the following:
At least one of your experts will need to talk about actual cost because this is how your recovery will be calculated. You will also need to prove a causal connection between your injuries and your probable future medical expenses. The opposing party is likely to assert that some of your claims result from a pre-existing injury. It is vital that you accurately calculate future medical expenses. Once a court reaches a decision, or you sign a settlement agreement, your claim will be resolved. That means you won’t be able to come back for more money later.
Going back and forth with the insurance company is an exhausting process when you’re trying to recover from your injuries. Insurance companies have an incentive to pay you as little as possible to settle a claim. An insurance adjuster may try to talk you into a low settlement while you’re still recovering from the accident. Giving a statement to an insurance adjuster can cost you dearly. You don’t have to talk to the insurance adjuster. A skilled car accident attorney can help protect you from saying something you’ll regret later by negotiating with insurance on your behalf to get you the money you deserve.
Our personal injury lawyers can help you gather evidence to prove how much your case is worth. An attorney can gather your medical bills, pay stubs, proof of other economic losses to demonstrate how much the accident has cost you. Your attorney can consult with your doctor about your future medical needs. The attorney can also gather evidence to help determine liability, such as photographs of the accident scene.
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