Medical Expenses in a Personal Injury Claim
October 20, 2021 | By Colombo Law
Personal injuries can take many shapes and forms. However, what many of these types of injuries have in common is that they can be very costly to treat.
Healthcare, as we all know, is not cheap. An ambulance ride and treatment in an emergency room can quickly add up to thousands of dollars in medical bills. The significant costs involved makes receiving care for an injury extremely stressful.
If the injury was caused by the negligence of another, you may be able to recover compensation from the at-fault party to pay for your damages. While damages can include more than just the cost of medical treatment, medical expenses tend to be one of the greatest sources of damages in personal injury claims.
If you have been injured and believe it was caused by the fault of another, Colombo Law is here to help. Contact a Morgantown personal injury lawyer today for a free consultation.
Common Personal Injury Damages Related to Medical Treatment
Every injury is different. Even with the same type of injury, such as a traumatic brain injury, individual injuries can vary greatly in severity and cost of treatment.
That said, there are some common expenses across different injuries that warrant a closer look:
Emergency Room Care
If you require an ambulance ride to the hospital, that can quickly cost hundreds (if not thousands) of dollars. Once you arrive at the ER, you can only expect your bills to increase.
According to a study by the Health Care Cost Institute, the average cost of an emergency room visit was nearly $1,400 in 2017. The cost of healthcare has only grown in the last four years, so this number is likely much higher now.
Hospitalization
If your injuries require further treatment, including hospitalization, medical expenses can begin to accumulate quickly. According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, the average hospital stay costs $11,700. HealthCare.gov reports that a three-day hospital stay can cost as much as $30,000.
Surgery
In many cases, surgeries are the biggest “question mark” around medical expenses. Some surgeries can cost a few thousand dollars. However, other types of surgery (such as procedures on the spinal cord) can quickly reach tens of thousands of dollars – if not more.
Therapy and Rehabilitation
Once the initial treatment is completed, many injuries require physical therapy and rehabilitation. Some injuries, such as back injuries, whiplash, broken bones, and traumatic brain injuries, may call for ongoing therapy and rehabilitation to regain strength and coordination, learn stretches and exercises that strengthen muscles, and help injured individuals manage their pain. Appointments with physical therapists and other professionals involved in your rehab will result in further expenses.
Ongoing Medical Expenses
Serious injuries may lead to long-term complications that result in additional medical costs months or even years after the accident. These can include prescriptions, medical devices, and more.
Furthermore, some injuries can leave you unable to return to your job. This exacerbates the financial toll of the injury, making it impossible to pay your bills.
Are You Entitled to Compensation for a Personal Injury?
Being entitled to compensation ultimately comes down to the question of fault. That is, can you prove that someone else’s negligence was the direct cause of your injury?
Proving fault in a personal injury claim can be a complicated process. It requires thorough investigation, comprehensive gathering of evidence, interviewing witnesses, negotiating with insurance companies, working with experts who can support your claim, and much more. You should be able to focus on recovering from your injuries, not the complexities of building your claim.
An experienced personal injury lawyer can take action on your behalf. One of the most important things an attorney can do on your behalf is accurately calculate how much you are entitled to in compensation. You may be able to recover damages for your current and future medical expenses, in addition to other losses you have sustained.
Contact a Morgantown Personal Injury Lawyer Today
At Colombo Law, we care about one thing: protecting the rights of individuals who were injured through no fault of their own. The expenses associated with an injury should not be the responsibility of someone who was behaving responsibly; they should be the responsibility of the party or parties whose negligence caused the injury.
Our attorneys have decades of experience representing clients in a wide range of personal injury claims. You can trust us to provide the support, guidance, and representation you and your family deserve in this trying time. We have achieved millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements on our clients’ behalf, and we can fight on your behalf as well.
Please call Colombo Law today at (304) 599-4229 for a free case review. Our personal injury lawyers serve clients in Morgantown and throughout West Virginia.
