One of the most common reasons for paralysis in adults in the US is a car accident. Paralysis caused by a car accident can create a severe financial burden in the form of medical bills. Moreover, you may also not be able to go to work and lose your earning capacity, even if temporarily. If you have been paralyzed as a result of another person’s fault, you should get legal help immediately.
That being said, you should visit a hospital if you exhibit any signs of paralysis. A severe spine injury can change your and your family’s entire future. Also, it is important to get in touch with a car accident attorney in Stockton to start building your case. If your condition is true, you must start gathering medical evidence right away.
Your legal options after being paralyzed in a car accident caused by another party
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File a personal injury insurance claim.
If you hire an attorney, they will first suggest you file an insurance claim with the at-fault party’s insurance company. This way, you will be able to receive a settlement without taking your case to court. You can present your evidence of damages, such as lost wages, medical bills, etc., and use those when demanding compensation. You can also file a claim with your own insurance if you have uninsured/underinsured or personal injury protection (PIP) coverage.
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File a personal injury lawsuit.
Even though filing an insurance claim is more convenient, affordable, and quick, it does not always work. If the at-fault does not accept its fault or they do not want to give you the compensation amount you have demanded, your next option is going to court. However, once you go to court, the power to make the final decision rests in the hands of the judge and the jury.
Calculating your medical bills for paralysis after a car accident.
The first step to obtaining compensation is creating an estimate, and to do that, it is important to consider every expense related to your condition. For example, you should include the following within your medical bills:
- Surgeries
- Medications
- Doctor’s appointments
- Medical equipment
- In-home care or assistance
- Hospitalization costs
- Follow-ups
- Future treatments and surgeries, if any
- Travelling costs to see the doctor
- Parking ticket costs at the hospital
There could be many more aspects of your medical condition that you may forget to include when calculating your damages. You should also not forget to include lost wages and loss of earning capacity damages due to your paralysis. These damages are crucial because your source of income significantly decreases or diminishes in such a situation.
