If you suffer a serious injury in a car crash, you are likely going to face significant costs right away. You may receive hospital bills for emergency treatment. You may also miss time at work, meaning you lose wages that you were counting on to cover your regular expenses.
It is important to seek compensation for these short-term damages. But while doing so, remember that you could also be facing long-term costs. These should be included in any settlement you accept or compensation you pursue from the party responsible for your injuries.
Reduced earning capacity
One example is when an injury leaves you with permanent limitations and reduced earning capacity. In some situations, you may be able to seek compensation for lost future wages.
For instance, imagine that you work in the medical field as a highly skilled surgeon. If you suffer a traumatic brain injury in a car accident and the injury prevents you from performing surgery, your earning capacity may be significantly reduced — even if you are still able to work in a different, lower-paying position.
Extended medical costs
You also need to work with your medical team to better understand your prognosis and the long-term impact the injury may have on your life. In addition to emergency treatment costs immediately after the accident, you may also face physical therapy expenses, medication costs and much more. Serious injuries could even require ongoing medical care or in-home assistance. These long-term damages should be considered along with your short-term losses.
After a serious injury, it is important to carefully evaluate the full financial impact you may face. It’s also important to consider non-economic damages like long-term pain and suffering, disability and disfigurement. It is important to work with an experienced attorney while pursuing compensation.