Continuing care costs are expenses associated with long-term care after an accident. They are a type of economic damages that are calculated by estimating the projected costs of recovery or any long-term expenses you’re expected to incur because of your injuries.
Continuing care costs can include medical bills and special expenses associated with disabilities sustained from an injury. Some examples are:
There are a nearly limitless number of changes a person may need to adopt in every aspect of their life to cope with a disability caused by a catastrophic injury.
A person who has lost their ability to walk may need to modify nearly their entire home, from lowering counters in bathrooms and kitchens to installing chairlifts, zero-threshold showers and widening doorways.
The injury victim may need occupational therapy to learn ways to continue performing their job duties or even undergo retraining and additional educational to pursue a new career if their injury prevents them from continuing to earn a living in their pre-accident field.
Continuing care costs may be awarded as damages to cover increased living expenses a person will incur (often indefinitely) after being injured in an accident. Proving a case warrants continuing care compensation can be difficult.
Assessing long-term care costs for medical expenses typically requires a medical professional provides an estimate of what will be needed for recovery or continued comfort, safety and mobility. Compelling evidence from a physician, doctor or therapist can make a significant difference in the size of the award.
The insurance company, judge or jury will also consider the consequences of your injury when determining what is part of your claim. For example, if you’re in a car accident and are paralyzed, you could be compensated for:
A personal injury attorney may be able to help you recover future damages, including continuing care costs.
Continuing care costs have the potential to increase your settlement amount considerably when verified by the appropriate medical professionals. Immediate economic and non-economic costs associated with injuries will be calculated along with continuing care.
Continuing care costs are not necessarily appropriate in every personal injury case. They’re usually needed if a person suffered a catastrophic injury from which they will never fully recover. Injury victims who will make a full recovery likely won’t be eligible for continuing care costs unless their recovery will extend beyond the finalization of their claim agreement.
Home modifications may be required if the injury victim has suffered reduced mobility or has lost the ability to walk or perform daily tasks of living. Medical professionals or occupational therapists may be used to provide expert testimony on the necessity of home modifications.
Common home modifications include:
Some injuries require lifelong adjustments for transportation and to enable the use of vehicles. Damages awarded may cover a van for disability transport or other vehicle modifications to give an injured person the ability to drive safely.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Association (NHTSA), adapted vehicles can cost anywhere from $20,000 to $80,000. Damages awarded can go toward vehicle replacement or adaptation to fit your needs.
Occupational therapy may be necessary if the claimant must relearn how to do daily living tasks with a disability. It’s also used to help injury victims return to work or continue in their profession despite a disability that may interfere with the way they previously performed their job. In some cases, an injury victim who suffered a catastrophic injury may simply be unable to continue in their chosen career. Those people may require complete job training, which can be expensive and should be covered by the at-fault party.
Occupational therapists may also be called on to testify in personal injury cases. Their professional expertise allows them to explain what an injured person’s new normal may look like and detail the ways in which their injury will impact their ability to work or perform normal, everyday tasks. Their professional recommendation can validate increased ongoing care costs and other economic losses.
Income loss can extend beyond the days, weeks or months of missed work immediately after the accident. For example, if the injured person was someone who typically worked overtime but is now unable to work more than part-time, damages may be awarded to cover the potential income loss.
Shortsightedness can result in injury victims getting far less than they need to cover the full economic impact of their situation. It’s important that your legal team takes a comprehensive view of the new normal you may be facing after suffering a catastrophic injury that results in a disability.
At Zdrilich Injury Law, we’ll investigate your situation and consider all the long-lasting impacts your injury may have on your life. For a free case evaluation, contact us online or call us at (770) 931-9604.
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Zdrilich Injury Law is committed to helping injured Georgians receive the money they need to recover physically and financially after an accident.
Zdrilich Injury Law, LLC providers one-on-one representation to car accident, truck accident and workers’ compensation clients in Georgia.
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