Can You Claim Future Medical Expenses in an Ohio Accident Settlement?

When getting injured in an accident, most people’s minds go straight to actively recovering physically and mentally, but what about financially? A question that arises during the personal injury claim process is if their future medical expenses can be included within the accident settlement. The answer is yes, and here’s how.

What are Future Medical Expenses?

To sum it up, future medical expenses are anticipated costs for any medical treatments needed in the future for injuries resulting from an accident. This could include:

• Doctor Visits:this includes follow-up appointments with physicians, doctors, or healthcare providers to monitor your recovery and adjust treatment if needed.
• Prescription Medications: long term recovery medications, like anti-inflammatories, pain-relievers, or even antidepressants. Or any medication prescribed to benefit and recover the injury.
• Medical Equipment: may include any medical supplies, wheel chairs, crutches, braces or even assistance devices. Some could even be in home modifications that cost thousands of dollars.
• Surgery and Ongoing Treatment: some injuries may not fully heal through initial treatments like physical therapy. In that case, surgery may be necessary, and the cost will vary depending on the nature and severity of the injury. 

Justifying Expected Medical Costs

• Testimony from Expert or Doctor: this could provide an expert opinion on how serious the injury may be or give input on the process of the recovery. Plus proof of the treatment.
• Treatment Plan: a detailed treatment plan showing every recovery day and exercises to show the costs of what is being put into the recovery.
• Projected costs based on medical pricings: medical prices can vary and having a statistical sheet to prove the costs will help aid the case.  
• Evidence proving long-term injuries attained: this could range from accident evidence to even pictures and documents of the injury.

Insurance Providers Tend to be Hesitant

At Kitrick, Lewis & Staley-Sladek, L.P.A., we understand insurers may push back and state these future expenses are unnecessary. Some insurers have a sticking point that injuries may get better overtime, costs are inflated or even medical treatment isn’t required. This is why it is crucial to have legal representation. We anticipate it, and fight for full compensation. This pushback from insurance companies is common, but our solid evidence and tactics will guide these arguments that juries and courts understand and respect.

Why it is Important

Having failed to include future medical costs on your settlement, it could leave you paying thousands or even hundreds of thousands of dollars in the long run. Once a case is closed, it’s very difficult to reopen and ask for money later on. In some long term damage cases, it is easily underestimated how much long term costs can arise 10 or even 20 years after.

How Kitrick, Lewis & Staley-Sladek Can Help

What needs to be set in stone is your financial future. What we can do is work to recover the compensation you deserve, estimate long-term costs, and build that strong foundation you need to build a case. We take the time to understand how the injury has affected every aspect of your life, both now and in the future. With this understanding, we create a compelling and evidence-based story. We then present this information to the court or jury and ensure your security in your financial future until the case has ended.

If yourself or a loved one happened to be injured in an accident in Ohio, don’t leave any money out the window. Our dedicated team at Kitrick, Lewis & Staley-Sladek, L.P.A. will put you first and evaluate the situation at hand. It’s about solving your medical needs, but current and future.

Contact KLS for a free consultation.