The odds of you ending up as a victim of an accident are low, but never zero. You never know what’s waiting for you around the corner or who’s starting their car after a drinking session with their friends. Events like this can completely topple your life in the blink of an eye.
When you find yourself as the victim of an accident, it’s time to roll up your sleeves and fight. Yes, you have injuries that you need to tend to, but don’t forget about the individual who caused your injuries. You need to tackle this legally.
One way to achieve that is by seeking compensation from the at-fault party. The compensation will help you on your path to recovery. But the possible settlement amounts in a personal injury lawsuit depend heavily on a number of factors.
And one factor that contributes to this is medical bills.
Medical Bills
Unless we’re talking about minor sideswipes or fender benders, all accidents cause injuries, one way or another.
And just about every law- or accident-related guide or blog on the internet talks about seeking medical attention immediately after an accident.
Why is that?
Because a visit to the hospital or any medical practitioner gets you the assistance required to treat your injuries.
And treating your injuries creates medical bills.
Importance of Medical Bills
You cannot consider medical bills as mere receipts, although that might be true to some extent. But in the legal context, medical bills hold high value. Medical bills are
- Proof that you sustained injuries
- Proof that your injuries were serious enough for multiple hospital visits
- Proof of the sum you spent on medical expenses
Proof that you sustained injuries
As said before, all accidents come with injuries. The moment you get treated at a hospital, you receive a comprehensive report of the injuries you sustained. Receiving medical bills after treatment proves that you suffered actual injuries that required a visit to the hospital.
Proof that your injuries were serious enough for multiple hospital visits
Not all injuries are the same. Some victims are lucky enough to get away with a few cuts and bruises. But then there are those whose injuries are so severe that they require continuous medical support. This can either be in the form of multiple hospital visits or regular therapy sessions over the course of the recovery period.
The medical bills you accumulate throughout this period are evidence of how serious your injuries were. The more serious the injuries, the more hospital visits.
And more hospital visits lead to more medical bills.
Proof of the sum you spent on medical expenses
This is the most important of them all.
Medical bills are the strongest evidence you can submit to show the expenses the accident has caused you. All of the following fall under the category of medical bills.
- Doctor’s consultations and examinations
- Specialist appointments
- Emergency room visits
- Surgeries
- Overnight stays
- Diagnostic tests
- Prescription medicine
- Therapy: physical and emotional
- Mobility aids
- Prosthetics
- Wheelchairs
- Crutches
- In-home nursing
- Home modifications
Not all of the above will be applicable in all cases. But the common ones, like doctor consultations, are common for all cases.
I have medical bills. What now?
The next part is calculating compensation. Assuming you have calculated other damages, like lost wages and property damage, it’s time to submit a demand letter asking for compensation from the at-fault party’s insurance company.
But this isn’t as easy as it sounds.
There are lots of complications involved. And it might be too much to handle for someone who’s recovering from an accident.
This is why it is recommended to hire an experienced personal injury lawyer. They will take care of everything related to your personal injury claim, from filing a demand letter to negotiating fair compensation. Nothing can go wrong with an experienced personal injury lawyer by your side.