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What Types of Medical Expenses Can I Get Compensation for After a Car Crash?

A car accident can result in severe injuries and high medical costs. The average cost of an evident injury in the United States went up to $345,000 in 2020. If an injury resulted in a permanent disability, the average medical expense was even higher at $1,252,000.

If you are facing increasing medical expenses in the wake of a collision, a Green Bay car accident attorney from Brian Hodgkiss Lawyers can make an assessment, review your injuries, and put together your compensation claim.

What Are the Most Common Injuries from Car Accidents?

Wisconsin’s Department of Transportation reported 32,373 injuries from automotive collisions in 2020, with 3,186 victims suffering serious injuries. The injuries range from traumatic head and soft tissue injuries to broken bones.

Traumatic Brain Injuries

In 2017, motor vehicle collisions ranked third among the leading causes of traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) in the United States. Those suffering from TBIs require immediate, ongoing medical care, rehabilitation, and household care.

People who sustain a TBI incur medical bills $4,906 higher than those who do not over 6 years. Hospitalization costs can vary from $2,130 to $401,808.

Spinal Cord Injuries and Paralysis

Every year, approximately 38% of new spinal cord injuries occur due to car accidents. This catastrophic injury requires long-term medical care, future hospitalizations, and regular household assistance.

A typical treatment and recovery process for a spinal cord injury costs $142,366. Costs can increase depending on the severity of the spinal cord injury. For instance, a person with a tetraplegic spinal cord injury can expect to pay $2,537,031 in lifetime costs.

Broken Bones

There is a wide range of medical costs following a fracture, ranging from $5,707 for radial injuries to $39,041 for multiple fractures. Femur fractures occur among 19% to 35.4% of car accident victims, depending on certain factors. This makes femur fractures the most common type of broken bone injury in car accidents. Repairing a broken leg may cost as much as $7,500 in medical expenses.

Soft Tissue Injuries

Soft tissue injuries, such as whiplash, occur in 90% of rear-end collisions, totaling up to $9 billion yearly in medical costs. Even superficial soft tissue injuries, such as damage to the hands and wrists, can cost individuals $641.87 to $726 in direct medical costs.

How Does a Victim Get Medical Compensation?

Since you need immediate medical attention, you may have to use your private health insurance, Medicare, or Medicaid to cover your medical bills up to your policy limitations. If your expenses exceed your health insurance coverage, the medical payments coverage in your car insurance policy can cover the gaps left by your insurance.

Types of Medical Expenses Eligible for Compensation

The medical bills you receive following a crash may cover several medical services to treat your injuries. Healthcare providers, facilities, and companies will bill you for the following:

Emergency transportation services
Follow-up medical evaluations
Diagnostic and laboratory testing
Occupational rehabilitation

What Are the Exceptions?

A health insurance company evaluates whether the medical equipment and prescription costs were reasonable and necessary for your injuries. These out-of-pocket expenses may include:

Prescription medications
Over-the-counter medications
Wheelchairs, crutches, and other medical equipment

If the other party is found at fault, compensation for your out-of-pocket medical bills requires filing an auto insurance claim against their insurance company. Working with a skilled car accident attorney can help you gather and preserve your medical records when you file your case.

How Can a Lawyer Help You Include Your Medical Bills in Your Claim?

An experienced personal injury attorney can calculate your current and future medical expenses in your claim. They may refer to expert medical witnesses who can evaluate your records and testify about your future treatments. Your attorney can speak with the auto insurance company on your behalf to negotiate a fair settlement.

Your attorney can even arrange medical liens with your providers as your claim moves through settlement negotiations and court proceedings. When you receive a settlement, the attorney can handle reimbursing your providers.

Contact an Experienced Attorney for Assistance with Your Claim

Wisconsin personal injury lawyer Brian Hodgkiss can help you get the compensation you deserve after your accident. Our law firm is dedicated to maximizing the value of your claim to help you rebuild your life after injury.