If you have been injured in an accident through no fault of your own, you may be wondering if it would be possible for you to receive compensation from the party responsible for your injuries. You probably received medical care after a car accident and are seeing a pile of bills accumulate while you are unable to work. If so, read on to find out how to get the compensation you are entitled to after an accident or injury.
Get Medical Attention
After being in an accident, it is vital to get a complete medical checkup. This is important for several reasons. First, because your health should always be your number one priority. Second, no matter how minor you consider the accident to have been, there might be internal injuries of which you are unaware, and not getting them seen by a medical professional may have unexpected consequences. You certainly do not want one of your internal organs to be hurt and not get the medical treatment required. Finally, your doctor needs to make note of your injuries in your medical records since a link between the injuries and the accident is crucial when the time comes for you to file a claim seeking financial compensation.
What type of compensation am I entitled to receive after being injured in an accident?
There are different types of compensation to which you might be entitled after sustaining injuries in an accident. These may include:
Medical Expenses
Medical expenses related to an injury may include doctor’s visits, treatments, rehabilitation, physical therapy, hospital stays and surgeries, diagnostic tests, emergency room visits, medical devices, and even transportation to and from appointments. Keep a detailed log of all your medical expenses to give to your attorney.
Wage Losses Now And In The Future
Being injured may mean that you are not able to go to work. Both the pain and the time you need to devote to healing will not allow you to conduct your normal activities. Keep a log of all lost earnings, such as paychecks, bonuses, commissions, and others. The severity of your injuries may mean that you could also claim compensation for loss of future earning capacity.
Other Expenses
Being injured may mean that you now require someone to care for your children or an elder relative you helped before. You may also need household help and have to pay for your car to be repaired or replaced. Keep track of all of these expenses as well.
Non-Economic Losses
Being in an accident and having your life turned upside down may impact your life in ways that are not easy to measure. You may suffer from PTSD, lost all enjoyment in activities you previously enjoyed, lost a relationship, you may have a reduced life expectancy, and be dealing with pain and suffering.
Even though none of the above are easy to quantify, it does not mean that they should not be compensated for.
No matter what type of accident you were involved with that caused your injuries, your accident attorney can help you put a fair value on these intangible losses when the time comes to file a lawsuit.