What Medical Expenses Can I Claim in a Personal Injury Claim

Personal Injury Lawyer

In the American healthcare system, many people worry about how they will pay for medical care when they need it most. For those who are injured in an accident, the anxiety of medical debt may prevent them from seeking proper treatment. But there is hope: If you’re injured in an accident, you may be entitled to compensation which includes reimbursement of your medical expenses.

Special Compensatory Damages

In most personal cases, medical expenses will be classified as specific compensatory damages. This type of compensation is meant to help reimburse the victim for their financial losses due to medical debt. If you were transported via ambulance to the hospital after a car accident, both the cost of the ambulance bill and the cost of your hospital stay may be included in your settlement. Other expenses that may be claimed include:

  • Lab fees
  • Pain management treatment
  • Prescriptions
  • Surgery bills including fees for the surgeons, anesthesiologist, and nurses
  • Additional doctors’ visits including visits to your primary doctor or a physical therapy specialist

In most cases, you will be able to also claim any future medical expenses as a result of your accident. If your injury requires multiple spinal surgeries or ongoing physical therapy, you or a personal injury lawyer like one from Ward & Ward Law Firm should be able to make a case for additional funds to put toward your future medical care. This is important because the statute of limitations is incredibly short in many states and some injuries are slow to heal.

Claiming Benefits

It’s vitally important for your case that you report your accident to your insurance company within 24 hours if you’re well enough to do so. Except in cases where you do not discover your injury until later, delaying to report may weaken any argument for compensation.

Be sure to document all effects of your injuries and keep copies of your medical records to submit to the insurance adjuster. You’ll also want to seek out witness statements and police records if applicable. This evidence will be important to support your claim for medical expenses you’ve incurred.

In cases of serious injury, an attorney will be able to do much of the work for you. They’ll be able to negotiate with your or the other party’s insurance company on your behalf, calculate your total medical costs, gather evidence, and advise you on any offered settlements while you focus on healing.

If you’ve been injured in any kind of accident, you’ll want someone knowledgeable on your side. Call your local personal injury lawyer today to ask how they can help you recover the cost of your expensive medical bills.

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