When a car accident sends your life into chaos, you may want to get things back to normal as soon as possible. That might mean settling your personal injury claim too. If the other driver caused the accident, you can rest assured they owe you something. The question is, what is owed by the other side? The amount you receive in a settlement depends largely on the particulars of your accident. Especially important are your medical expenses. To find out more about the importance of your medical expenses and what could happen when your injuries are severe, read below.
Medical Treatment Costs and Other Damages
Along with lost wages and personal property damages, medical expenses and pain and suffering comprise two of the largest categories of damage. Not only are medical expenses often super high, but this form of damage may have an effect on another—pain and suffering. Pain and suffering can be calculated using the dollar amount of what you have been charged by the ambulance, emergency room, hospital, doctors, rehabilitation facilities, and more. For that reason, the other person's insurance company may take a close look at your medical costs and your injuries with an eye toward keeping the settlement cost as low as they can.
Wrecks and Medical Expenses
With vehicles being constructed better and the addition of modern safety features, people often survive what might have been a catastrophic accident in years past. High speeds and crowded roadways, however, mean that drivers are still hurt badly in accidents—some of them severely or permanently. Bad injuries that require a lot of medical care can lead to higher pain and suffering. That can also mean your medical condition and treatment will come under greater scrutiny. One issue to be aware of is when the insurer for the other driver requests access to your medical records from the past.
Preexisting Medical Conditions: What To Do
You should speak to a personal injury lawyer about your case right away. You will need to prove that any preexisting medical issues have nothing to do with your current state of health. Don't release your records to anyone but your lawyer and never speak on record to the other side or their insurer for any reason. Potentially thousands of dollars in pain and suffering and medical expenses may be on the line if you don't act fast so speak to a lawyer right away. For more information, contact a personal injury attorney.
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