After an unexpected injury in a vehicle crash, slip and fall, or another type of incident, you might recognize that another party should be liable for your losses. Even if you know which insurance claims you should file to seek your rightful compensation, how do you know how much compensation to request? The insurance company certainly will not do the math for you – in fact, insurers often try to minimize settlement payments, so you should never trust an insurance company with this task. Instead, you should seek the help of an experienced Fargo personal injury attorney who knows how to calculate the amount you deserve.
Common Injury-Related Losses
In order to recover damages in an insurance settlement, you must request a specific amount and support that claim with evidence of your losses. Calculating your losses might be more difficult than you expect, depending on the severity of your injuries. Generally speaking, the more serious your injuries are, the more your claim might be worth, and the more challenging it can be to accurately determine your losses.
Some common losses stemming from injuries include:
Medical bills – It is important to seek the treatment you need for your injuries right away, and the medical bills can quickly pile up. You might have bills from emergency care, diagnostic tests, hospitalization, surgeries, rehabilitative therapy, medications, and more.
Future treatment costs – For severe injuries, you might need treatment long after your insurance claim is settled. For this reason, it is important to estimate the costs of the treatment you will need in the future. This might require the help of medical experts in many cases.
Lost income – Injuries can keep you out of work for different reasons. Sometimes, recovery requires rest, so working is not advised. Other times, injuries can cause restrictions or impairments that prevent you from being able to perform your job. You can recover for the wages you lost from missing work.
Future lost earnings – If you have long-term impairments, they might prevent you from returning to your prior job. You might have to switch to a lower-paying job or rely on disability. Calculating your lost future earnings is a complex matter.
Intangible losses – Not all losses are tied to the financial impact of your injury. Many injury victims can recover for pain and suffering, permanent impairments or disfigurement, loss of enjoyment of life, and more.
Let Our Fargo Personal Injury Lawyers Help You
Calculating losses is much more than adding up your medical bills, and you do not want to risk losing the compensation you deserve. Schedule a free consultation with a Fargo personal injury attorney who can protect your rights and interests. Contact one of our experienced personal injury attorneys, Tatum O’Brien, Tim O’Keeffe, or Sara Monson by email, or call O’Keeffe O’Brien Lyson Attorneys at 701-235-8000 or toll-free 877-235-8002.
