If you suffer an injury in a car accident, a slip-and-fall accident or from a defective product, you certainly may need compensation for short-term costs. If you are rushed to the emergency room, for instance, you have medical bills and transportation costs. If you miss time at work, you may deserve compensation for your lost wages.
But it is also important to think about the long-term compensation that you can seek at this time. This may be more valuable than short-term issues, so you never want to accept a settlement that doesn’t cover all of your costs.
Reduced earning capacity
For instance, say that your injury leaves you with lingering issues or a disability. As a result, you can never return to work or you have to take a different job that doesn’t pay as much as your previous position. In this sense, the injury has reduced your earning capacity, and you can seek compensation for lost future wages.
Ongoing medical care
You also have to consider if you’ll have medical costs in the future. Say that you suffer a back injury in a car accident. Months after your initial treatment, you need to go in for surgery. Doctors find other issues that require a second surgery six months later. You then need rehabilitative care, and you may need in-home care while you recover. All of these long-term medical expenses still stem from that initial accident, so you may deserve compensation.
Your legal options
It is important to get all of the compensation that you deserve. Make sure you know what legal options you have at this time.