If you were badly injured in an auto accident caused by another party, North Carolina law enables you to file a claim against the negligent motorist in order to pursue financial restitution for your harms and losses. This means you can pursue reimbursement for medical expenses incurred as a result of the auto accident, loss of income, pain and suffering, and more.
Not only are victims entitled to damages for their past and present losses, there are future losses that an experienced Outer Banks car accident injury attorney can also pursue on your behalf. This is especially true if you suffered a catastrophic injury, or injuries, that require long-term recovery or leave the victim with permanent disabilities. Before even discussing a settlement with an insurance company, your attorney will calculate what those future expenses will be; utilizing resources such as medical experts, vocational experts, and others who will help determine long-term costs.
Future Medical Costs
Many victims who suffer severe injuries require future physical therapy, surgeries, medical treatments, and medications. The costs of all this can be astronomical. In a personal injury case, there are no caps on the cost of medical treatment. The insurance company – or courts if the claim turns into a personal injury lawsuit – determines each case on an individual basis. Some of the future medical costs that can be included in a settlement are:
- Diagnostic tests
- Hospital expenses
- Surgery costs
- Rehabilitation and therapy
- Medication
- Medical devices and equipment
- Modifications to the victim’s home to accommodate disability
Future Income Loss
If the injury will cause you to miss work, left you with a permanent disability, or unable to work at your current profession, you are entitled to compensation for the amount of income you are losing. In order to determine what that amount is, your attorney will estimate what your earning capacity was prior to being injured and compare that to the reduction you have now.
Future Pain, Suffering and Non-Economic Harm
Many catastrophic injuries leave victims with chronic pain that they must deal with for the rest of their lives. This pain can also affect them emotionally, causing depression and other mental health issues because of the way the pain reduces their quality of life. When calculating this amount, your attorney will use several factors, including the emotional and physical pain impact of the injury.
Contact Our Kitty Hawk Personal Injury Law Firm Today
If you have been injured, a North Carolina personal injury attorney can evaluate your case to see what damages you may be entitled to and what the best course of action is to obtain those damages.
RELATED CONTENT