Every year hundreds of thousands of accidents or incidents occur throughout the United States. These accidents arise from a variety of circumstances. The most common causes for personal injuries involve medical malpractice, slip and falls, car accidents, product liability, and premises liability claims. The ultimate goal in any personal injury case is to hold the negligent party liable for the injuries they have caused, often by requiring the negligent party to pay monetary damages to the injured party. If you or someone you know has been injured in an accident or incident in the state of West Virginia, you need an attorney to represent your interests. To get started with your claim, contact an experienced personal injury attorney at Colombo Law.
What are Future Medical Expenses?
Future medical expenses are anticipated costs for medical care that is likely to be necessary in the future. Generally, your medical care provider will draft documents indicating the projected expenses. For instance, your treating doctor or physician will provide information relating to:
- The likelihood of future medical care;
- The necessary type and extent of care;
- The length of care; and
- The estimated costs of care.
Future Medical Expenses Must be Considered in a Personal Injury Claim
A personal injury claim is a form of legal relief that allows parties to obtain compensation for injuries sustained. There are specific time frames in which a party must initiate a claim after an accident, known as the statute of limitations. In West Virginia, the statute of limitations for most personal injury claims is two years. Generally, the two-year statute begins to run when the incident occurrs or on the day the injured party knew or should have known about any injuries incurred.
Once a personal injury claim is initiated, the injured party must assert a claim for every possible form of relief at that time. Once the case concludes, by way of a settlement or jury verdict, the plaintiff will not be able to come back at a later date to assert additional claims. This is why it is important to project future medical expenses whenever injuries may require ongoing care.
