Often times when someone is involved in an auto accident the injuries that are suffered don’t show up immediately. Even if they show up immediately, it may be months or years before they heal completely. Some injuries never completely heal and the victim is forced to deal with the physical and mental pain as well as the financial burden of treatment for the rest of their life. Many victims of car accidents are left with questions regarding these future costs and pain. Who is going to pay for my medical bills down the road? How can I know what treatment I will need in the future as a result of these injuries? How can I calculate the costs of future medical bills? Do I have to wait until I am completely healed to resolve my car accident case?
According to Los Angeles car accident attorney Emery Ledger of Ledger & Associates, these are all common and valid questions and concerns. Unfortunately, not all car accident injuries heal quickly. Catastrophic injuries may leave the victim permanently disabled. Even less serious injuries can sometimes flare up down the road and cause pain, suffering and additional medical expenses for the victim. Luckily, the car accident laws in the State of California do provide a means to incorporate these future medical bills and any permanent or future pain and suffering into the value of your car accident case.
When your car accident attorney is preparing your case, he will consult with your medical providers and ask for detailed reports outlining your prognosis for the future. In those reports, your medical provider will indicate what your injuries are and whether or not they have completely healed or not. If you have injuries that will cause you problems in the future, then your medical provider will be able to indicate that in the report he provides your attorney. This is one of the reasons that it is so important to follow-up with your medical care and treatment. If you will need future surgeries, treatment or therapy, your medical provider will be able to state that in their report. These reports are an invaluable tool for your car accident attorney when he is preparing your case. From these reports, your attorney can evaluate what your future medical costs are likely to be and incorporate those costs into your settlement demand or present them at your trial. Your future prognosis is also one of the tools used to determining your non-economic damages – what most people think of as pain and suffering. If your medical providers indicate that you will most likely have pain as a result of the accident for the rest of your life, then your attorney has a stronger argument for a large pain and suffering award. Likewise, if you will have to undergo future surgeries, you will clearly have to deal with additional pain and suffering in the future. All of these factors are used by your car accident attorney to determine the value of your case and to make sure that you receive enough compensation to pay for any future medical bills and costs that you may have.
As you can see, the laws of negligence do provide a mechanism for you to be compensated for future costs and pain associated with your car accident – and you don’t have to wait indefinitely to be compensated. Consult with your attorney to determine what your claim is worth and when to make your claim.
