A serious car accident can leave a person with severe injuries and mounting medical expenses. If the accident was caused by a negligent driver, the accident victim may want to pursue compensation from the responsible party. The damages sought in car accident cases vary but often include past and future medical expenses.
Special or economic damages
Medical expenses fall under the category of special or economic damages. These damages cover out-of-pocket losses that are quantifiable. In general, special damages are relatively simple to quantify because the plaintiff has already paid for them. However, quantifying future medical expenses can be more difficult. Oftentimes an expert witness and other types of evidence are employed to calculate future medical expenses.
Types of medical damages
There are a variety of medical damages a plaintiff can seek following a car crash. They include:
- The costs of an ambulance ride
- Visits with physicians
- Surgical expenses
- Hospital expenses
- Physical therapy
- Loss of limb
- Loss of use of limb
These are only some examples of medical damages that may be sought following a motor vehicle accident. There are other medical damages that may be applicable to certain cases. Note that some of these expenses will be past medical expenses and some will be future medical expenses.
Know your rights following a car accident
If you are involved in a car accident you will likely have many concerns. If you are severely injured, you may be especially concerned about regaining your health. If you cannot work due to the crash and the medical bills are piling up, you may feel hopeless. Fortunately, many times it is possible to pursue a personal injury lawsuit to recover the damages you need to compensate you for past and future medical expenses, as well as other damages.