Calculating Future Losses Stemming From a West Covina Auto Accident
Auto accidents happen at random and without warning. While a more minor injury may require you to take a few weeks off work until you recover, serious personal injuries can last a lifetime, especially when it comes to traumatic brain and spine injuries. The bills for these types of catastrophic injuries add up, often costing a victim hundreds of thousands of dollars and his job. Left with no way to make money and support this new lifestyle, life can feel daunting. That's where an experienced West Covina injury lawyer can help.
When Do You Need to Consider Future Losses?
If you are injured in an auto accident in West Covina that was not your fault and you file a legal claim against the negligent driver, you have the right to recover financial compensation for your damages, both to your property and to your person. One of the things your lawyer will look at when determining what your case is worth and how much you may be able to recover is by calculating future losses. Simply put, if you break your arm in an accident and will be required miss work for 12 weeks while it heals, you can calculate your future losses during the next 12 weeks.
The hardship with calculating future losses comes when you suffer an injury that causes a legal disability. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) defines disability as a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, which include, but are not limited to:
- Caring for yourself
- Performing manual tasks
- Seeing or hearing
- Eating or sleeping
- Walking or standing
- Lifting or bending
- Speaking, communicating, or breathing
- Learning, reading, concentrating, or thinking
- Working
How can you calculate and therefore receive compensation for the future losses you will incur if your disability leaves you unable to work and will result in years of additional medical expenses? With the help of an expert.
Proving Future Losses
Generally speaking, when an injury victim in an auto accident case claims lost earning potential, their attorney will hire an economic expert witness who specializes in this area. Proving lost earning potential or future medical bills requires speculation and your economic expert will work with your West Covina personal injury attorney and doctors to calculate what you reasonably would have made during the course of your work life had the accident not injured you.
Common Medical Expenses After a Car Accident
If you suffered a serious injury that has altered your way of life, potential expenses can include:
- Ambulance rides
- Hospital stays
- Doctor visits
- Pharmaceuticals
- Physical therapy
- Chiropractic care
- Therapy
Unfortunately, this list is not exhaustive. For more information on what you can expect to recover after a serious auto accident, contact the experienced West Covina accident attorneys at Ghozland Law Firm today.
