In most instances, an attorney doesn’t settle a personal injury case until after the victim receives most of their medical treatment. It’s not that the attorney doesn’t want the victim to recover as quickly as possible., it’s because medical care establishes a pattern of the victim’s injuries and losses. These losses are what form the basis for the victim’s recovery.
If the injury is a type that the victim can recover from completely in a relatively short period of time, their attorney may wait until they’ve completely recovered to settle the case. This is the best way to fully know the cost of medical bills. However, if the victim has injuries that require long-term care, it’s not practical to wait until they’ve completed treatment in order to agree on a recovery.
How to Settle During Medical Treatment
If you are looking to settle a case while receiving medical treatment, a skilled attorney will need to work to project the future cost of care. This involves working with the victim’s medical providers in order to determine the victim’s future care needs. It also means working with the providers and accountants as well to determine the cost of that treatment.
Calculating this figure should include interest and inflation as well as an adjustment of the amount to today’s dollars. While all of this is complicated, an experienced personal injury attorney has the experience to assist their client with this complicated legal work. To prepare the case, the victim’s attorney gathers medical records. Then, they ask the medical provider for an expert opinion about the victim’s prognosis.
What are Medical Damages
Medical damages encompass a wide variety of medical needs and services. In addition to medical treatment for injuries, medical damages include the cost of rehabilitative services. If the victim needs mobility aids, the cost of those aids should be included as damages.
Victims of personal injury often have mental health injuries. They may have emotional anguish or post-traumatic stress disorder. These are very real and very challenging mental injuries that may result from a personal injury. It’s important to develop a treatment plan for these injuries in order to include them in the victim’s request for damages. All medical damages should be carefully documented in order to convince the person responsible to make a fair payment for compensation.
Having an attorney on your side is a great way to pursue fair compensation while you receive medical treatment. An attorney can document losses in a way that helps them prepare your case for success. This guidance is critical for maximizing compensation and helping you rebuild your life. Ohio Accident Cases can link you with an attorney in your area who can serve as your legal counsel. Contact us today for a free case evaluation.