When a serious injury has lasting consequences, the financial impact may continue long after the initial medical bills arrive. A personal injury claim should therefore consider not only what an accident has already cost an injured person, but also the expenses, losses, and hardships they may reasonably face in the future. In this article, Minnesota personal injury attorney Harry Sieben explains future damages and why accurately evaluating them can be an important part of pursuing fair compensation.
Personal injury damages can include medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and property damage. For someone who makes a full recovery relatively quickly, calculating those losses may be fairly straightforward. Serious or permanent injuries, however, can create needs that extend years or even a lifetime beyond the accident.
Future damages may include ongoing medical treatment, rehabilitation, therapy, prescription medications, future lost wages, reduced earning capacity, permanent disability, and continuing physical pain or emotional suffering. A serious injury can also affect a person's relationships and ability to participate in the activities and responsibilities that were part of everyday life before the accident.
Harry explains why considering these future consequences before resolving a personal injury claim is so important. Once a settlement has been accepted, an injured person generally cannot return later to seek additional compensation because medical needs became more extensive or an injury prevented them from working as expected. That makes evaluating the likely long-term impact of an injury a critical part of determining an appropriate settlement amount.
Unlike past expenses, future damages cannot simply be calculated by adding up existing bills and lost paychecks. Attorneys may need to gather evidence and consult experts to establish what an injured person is likely to experience going forward. Physicians can provide insight into future treatment and rehabilitation needs. Employers and other vocational or financial professionals may help demonstrate how an injury affects someone's ability to work and earn income. Mental health professionals may also provide evidence about the lasting psychological effects of a traumatic injury.
Building this evidence can be especially important when an insurance company disputes the extent of future losses or offers a settlement that does not adequately account for them.
For people facing permanent injuries, chronic pain, disability, or a lengthy recovery, understanding future damages can help ensure that a personal injury claim reflects the full impact of an accident, not simply its immediate aftermath.
Read the full article: What Are Future Damages in a Personal Injury Claim?
