Just as the definition implies, an accident is unexpected. In other words, a victim in an accident is likely unprepared to deal with the injuries and damages that they suffered as a result. Calculating damages in an accident is not an easy task, as there are several variables and factors to consider. This is especially true when calculating future medical costs related to the injuries from the accident.
Proving losses
A personal injury claim relies on an accident victim to prove liability. Once this is established and the victim proved that their injury was a result of negligence or a breach of a duty of care, the next step is to prove damages or compensable harm suffered.
Often, damages are calculated based on known losses. For example, medical bills and lost wages are damages that have documents to prove losses. This is also true for property damages, although a calculation may be based on the current market value versus what was paid originally.
In contrast, some losses prove to be more challenging to calculate, such as pain and suffering and future medical expenses. While they are not concrete, the usage of experts and medical professionals can help with this assessment.
Calculating future medical expenses
When seeking future medical expenses in a personal injury action, you must illustrate the prospective health care needs. A doctor and specialists can weigh in on this, explaining the injury, treatment plan and possible future outcomes.
When future medical expenses are paid, this money is often held in a trust. Then, when care is needed, the money in the trust is used to cover the cost of medical care related to the original injury.
No amount of money can completely undo the harm caused by a negligent party. While a personal injury claim helps place liability on the party at fault and calculate the current losses, this may not address all harm suffered. Because a life-altering accident can cause life-long medical care to be necessary, a personal injury also considers the costs associated with all future medical care and treatments.