If you were injured in an accident, the initial thought would be to call your lawyer to handle the matter legally. Filing a personal injury lawsuit is one way to ensure you get compensation for any damage or injury you’ve sustained, especially if the other party was at fault. However, medical bills and other forms of damage are not the only costs involved when you suffer a personal injury. Find out more about the hidden costs of accidents so you are informed about your rights when you figure in an accident resulting in injury.
Long-Term Costs of Accidents
If you have suffered a personal injury due to someone’s fault, you seek compensation to recoup your medical bills and attorney’s fees. Most people are content with any compensation they receive, especially once they have recovered and the pain of the injuries has subsided.
But this is not always the case. Some personal injuries resulting from accidents will require a longer recovery time. A few others might not even recover at all as they suffer from life-long injuries. As a result, they need continued treatment throughout their lifetime. Some victims are unable to go back to work because of their injuries.
Therefore, there is more to a personal injury case than the upfront medical bills. Let’s examine the hidden costs of accidents in Greensboro, which should motivate anyone to pursue a lawsuit against the at-fault party.
Medical Bills
North Carolina and the city of Greensboro have some of the US’ most expensive healthcare and medical costs, according to a study by WalletHub. The study considered the health and medical costs across all 50 states in the US.
In addition, health and medical insurance premiums in North Carolina are also steep. It ranks 38th out of the 50 states in monthly insurance premium costs.
Therefore, anyone living in Greensboro and North Carolina has to pay a hefty price if they need to visit the doctor for health or medical reasons. And as such, it makes sense to pursue a personal injury case when you’re involved in an accident that resulted in an injury. Winning the case will help you cover any medical costs for your injury instead of paying out of your own pocket, especially for serious injuries requiring additional and long-term treatment.
Medical Equipment
In addition to the medical bills relating to the treatment of injuries, some injuries require medical equipment upon recovery. For example, some patients need to use a wheelchair, crutches, or a brace for a given period.
Acquisition of this medical equipment entails cost. Therefore, you should file a personal injury lawsuit to obtain compensation for acquiring this medical equipment.
Long-Term Rehabilitation
The costs of an accident in Greensboro’s personal injury cases keep increasing. Another significant cost to consider is long-term rehabilitation.
Some injuries can take years to heal and recover from. For example, if you have to undergo physical therapy sessions multiple times a week for several months (or years) to restore function in injured parts of the body, the rehabilitation process will be costly. In addition, you might be required to take certain medications as part of your recovery. Make sure to account for these costs, too.
If you are not willing to shoulder the rehabilitation costs, you must file a lawsuit against the offending party with the help of a lawyer.
Lost Wages and Opportunities
One of the most overlooked costs of an accident is the inability to sustain your income while injured. Specific injuries require rehabilitation, which also means you won’t be able to work. So how will you maintain your income if you can’t go to work?
Therefore, personal injury cases aim to recover any lost wages or opportunities resulting from the accident. A lawyer could help you determine how much compensation to seek concerning your projected income if you hadn’t been injured.
How a Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help
Some injuries resulting from an accident might seem minor until you’ve considered all the costs involved on your way to recovery. Therefore, refrain from agreeing to a settlement that only considers the upfront costs of the accident.
A personal injury lawyer can help you understand your rights, especially if the injury prevented you from going to work or required you to have long-term treatment. Failing to plan for the hidden costs of an accident can put you in a tough spot because you could end up paying for the unnecessary expenses from your pocket. These costs can significantly dent your long-term finances, so you must find an experienced personal injury lawyer to help you get the proper compensation.