When a negligent driver involves you in a traffic accident that causes you serious injury, there are many costs to think about when calculating the potential damages. Some injuries can change your life forever, and the resulting costs could continue indefinitely.
Beyond your medical costs, you may be out of work for an extended period or even permanently, yet your expenses will continue to mount.
Lost earnings
Many employers are subject to the 12-week family medical leave act (FMLA), which allows you to take up to three months off without losing your job, but that time is unpaid. Vacation and sick pay typically amount to only a few weeks per year. If you have to go on permanent disability, your annual income will be permanently diminished.
Home care
If your injuries leave you unable to walk, for example, you’ll need a wheelchair. That means your home will need modifications to accommodate it. You will have to install a handicapped-accessible shower, ramps and perhaps even a stairlift. In addition, you may need nursing care either initially or long-term. You may need a personal care assistant in the absence of a willing family member or have to spend a period of time in an in-patient rehabilitation facility. All of these things take money, and through no fault of your own, could rob you of your financial security.
A catastrophic injury can result in tremendous expenses over your lifetime. It is important to consider all of these costs when calculating the value of damages to seek from the driver who caused the accident.