Understanding Future Medical Expenses in Georgia Personal Injury Cases
Future medical expenses are a key part of many personal injury claims in Georgia. Serious injuries can lead to long-term medical care, therapy, and other treatments that add up over time. Accident victims should know how these costs are calculated and how to protect their right to recover compensation for future medical expenses. With the help of an experienced personal injury lawyer, you can make sure your claim includes the full cost of your future medical care and helps you rebuild your life after an accident.
In this blog, we explain how future medical expenses are calculated, why they matter in personal injury cases, and how working with an experienced Atlanta personal injury lawyer can help you protect your claim and secure fair compensation for your future medical care.
What Are Future Medical Expenses?
In personal injury cases, future medical expenses are a crucial part of any claim for damages. Understanding them helps injured people and personal injury lawyers recover the fair compensation they deserve.
Definition of Future Medical Expenses
Future medical expenses include the cost of medical treatment that will be needed after a settlement or trial. This includes anticipated medical costs for surgeries, rehabilitation, therapy, medications, and ongoing care.
How Future Medical Expenses Differ from Past Medical Costs
Past medical costs include expenses already paid for immediate medical care, like emergency room visits or surgeries right after the accident. Future medical expenses focus on the care needed after the injured person reaches maximum medical improvement.
Examples of Future Medical Expenses
Future medical expenses can include regular medical appointments, physical therapy, home care services, adaptive equipment, and long-term rehabilitation. These costs are critical for accident victims with permanent injuries, traumatic brain injuries, or serious injuries that need ongoing care.
Importance in Personal Injury Claims
Future medical expenses are an important part of personal injury settlements and personal injury lawsuits. Insurance companies and personal injury lawyers must consider these costs to make sure accident victims get the full compensation they need for medical care and recovery.
Legal Framework for Future Medical Expenses in Georgia
Georgia law outlines clear rules about how accident victims can recover compensation for future medical expenses in personal injury claims. This section explains how the law applies and how personal injury attorneys use it to protect injured clients.
Georgia Law on Future Medical Expenses
Under Georgia law, future medical expenses are a type of future damages that an injured person can recover from the at-fault party. O.C.G.A. § 51-12-4 allows accident victims to recover damages for medical treatment that is likely to happen in the future because of injuries from the accident. These anticipated medical costs can include surgeries, rehabilitation, physical therapy, and long-term care. This law helps injury victims plan for future medical treatment without facing financial stress.
The Role of the At-Fault Party
The at-fault party in a motor vehicle accident or other preventable accident has a legal duty to pay for future medical expenses. This legal duty includes covering the costs of anticipated medical treatment that the injured person will need in the future. Accident victims can include these costs in their personal injury claim, and they can also seek these damages as part of a personal injury lawsuit. This ensures that injured people get the medical care they need without having to worry about how to pay for it later.
Why Legal Representation Matters
A personal injury lawyer plays a key role in building a strong case for future medical expenses. They work with doctors, rehabilitation specialists, and financial planners to document and calculate all future medical costs that an injury victim will need.
Personal injury lawyers also handle the negotiation process with the insurance company to make sure injury victims receive fair compensation. Insurance companies often try to pay less for future medical care, so having legal representation helps protect injury victims and ensures they get full compensation for future medical expenses.
Factors to Determine Future Medical Expenses
Accurate calculation of future medical expenses is a key part of a personal injury claim. This section looks at the main factors that affect the value of these expenses.
Medical Records and Expert Testimony
Medical records provide important details about the injury and treatment needed. Personal injury lawyers often use medical records along with expert testimony from doctors and specialists. Expert opinions help to show the type of medical care that will be needed in the future and the cost of that care.
Severity of Injuries
The severity of the injury has a direct impact on future medical costs. Serious injuries like traumatic brain injuries or permanent disabilities usually need long-term care. Future medical treatment for these injuries can include regular therapy, surgery, or special equipment to help with daily activities.
Maximum Medical Improvement
Maximum medical improvement means that the injured person’s condition has stabilized and will not get better with more treatment. Once the person reaches maximum medical improvement, doctors can give a clear plan for future medical treatment and anticipated medical costs.
Economic and Inflation Factors
Future medical expenses also include the effects of inflation and changing medical costs. Personal injury attorneys work with financial experts to predict how much future medical care will cost, considering economic changes. This ensures that injured people can pay for future medical care without financial worries.
Steps to Protect Your Claim for Future Medical Expenses
Accident victims must take specific steps to protect their right to compensation for future medical expenses.
Get Medical Care and Follow Up
Seek medical care immediately after the accident and continue with follow-up appointments. Medical care should include all recommended treatments, such as physical therapy, surgery, or counseling. Medical records from these visits are important for showing the full extent of your injuries and the future medical care you will need.
Keep Detailed Records
Keep copies of medical bills, therapy notes, and any other documents related to your medical treatment. These records help your personal injury lawyer calculate the anticipated medical costs and show the insurance company why you need future medical treatment. Save all paperwork, including receipts for medical equipment or home care.
Document Physical Pain and Limitations
Write down your daily pain levels, physical challenges, and any changes in your daily activities. Note if you need help with household tasks or if you have trouble returning to work. These details help show the insurance company and the court why you need ongoing medical care and future medical expenses.
Work With a Personal Injury Lawyer
A personal injury attorney is essential for protecting your claim. Your lawyer will gather medical records, speak to doctors and rehabilitation specialists, and work with financial experts to estimate the cost of future medical care. Personal injury attorneys also manage settlement negotiations and make sure insurance companies do not undervalue your claim.
Be Cautious with Settlement Offers
Insurance companies often try to settle personal injury cases quickly for a lower amount. Do not accept any offers without knowing the full value of your future medical care. Talk to your lawyer before agreeing to any personal injury settlement. They will help you decide if the offer covers all your future medical expenses and if it is fair for your injuries and recovery.
Contact an Experienced Atlanta Personal Injury Attorney Today!
If you have sustained injuries and need help with your claim for future medical expenses, reach out to our team at Atlanta Metro Law. Our experienced personal injury lawyers will carefully review your case, gather the evidence needed to show your future medical costs, and handle the insurance company for you. We offer free consultations and work on a contingency fee basis, so you will not pay any upfront fees.
Contact us at 864-894-2045 for a free claim review today!
