When you are injured in a car accident or any other incident, medical treatment often continues long after the initial emergency care. If your injury leads to long-term effects, you may be entitled to compensation for future medical expenses. At the Law Offices of Brent W. Caldwell, we work with injured clients throughout California to make sure these future costs are not overlooked or undervalued.
What Are Future Medical Expenses?
Future medical expenses are the expected costs of medical care you will need after your case is resolved. These costs are included in your personal injury claim when your injuries require continued treatment, therapy, or long-term care.
Common examples include:
- Follow-up surgeries
- Physical therapy and rehabilitation
- Pain management or specialist visits
- Assistive devices such as braces or wheelchairs
- Home health care
- Prescription medications
- Psychological counseling or mental health care
- Ongoing diagnostic tests
To receive compensation, these future treatments must be medically necessary and reasonably certain to occur.
How Are They Calculated?
Determining the value of future medical expenses requires more than guesswork. It often involves:
1. Medical Expert Opinions
Doctors and other healthcare providers can assess your condition and provide written opinions on what kind of treatment you will need going forward. This may include an estimate of how long the treatment will last, the type of care needed, and the expected costs.
2. Life Care Plans
In serious or permanent injury cases, a life care planner may be brought in. These professionals create a detailed report that outlines all future medical needs, costs, and timelines. Life care plans are often used in cases involving traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, or other long-term disabilities.
3. Economic Analysis
An economist or financial expert may calculate how inflation and rising healthcare costs could affect the future value of care. This helps ensure that your settlement or verdict reflects the full cost of future treatment, not just today’s prices.
Why Future Medical Expenses Matter
If your case settles or goes to trial before you complete treatment, and future care is not properly accounted for, you will not be able to go back and ask for more later. Insurance companies often try to minimize or reject claims for future expenses unless supported by strong evidence.
Once you accept a settlement, it usually includes a release that closes the case permanently. That is why it is important to get a complete and accurate estimate of future costs before finalizing any agreement.
Do You Need a Lawyer?
Proving future medical expenses can be complex. Without expert input, insurance companies may undervalue or deny this part of your claim entirely. At the Law Offices of Brent W. Caldwell, we coordinate with medical experts and financial professionals to build a clear and supported claim. We know what documentation insurers require and how to present it effectively.
Protect Your Future With the Right Legal Help
If you were seriously injured in a California accident and expect to need long-term care, do not let insurance companies shortchange your recovery. Future medical expenses are a key part of your compensation, and we make sure they are not ignored.
Call the Law Offices of Brent W. Caldwell for a free consultation. We work on a contingency fee basis, so you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you.
