What Is Injury Compensation?

Injury compensation is money paid to assist injured people in paying for losses that result from work-related injuries. These losses can include medical expenses as well as lost wages and future income as well as loss of enjoyment of life-changing injuries.

You can obtain this money through two ways: either through a settlement or by filing a lawsuit. A lawyer can review your case and advise you on the best option for you.

Medical Treatment

Medical treatment is a major component of your injury claim. The insurance company will cover reasonable and necessary medical treatment. This includes medical bills for health care providers and specialists. The insurance company will pay for prescription and over-the counter medications in addition to expenses for travel to and from medical appointments.

Based on the severity of your injury, you may need assistive aids such as canes, wheelchairs, or other special clothing. You can also recover expenses for home improvements, such as stair lifts and ramps. Medical expenses include diagnostic tests that are required to determine the severity of your injuries and monitor recovery. You are also able to claim reimbursement for any procedure needed to treat your injury. The workers' compensation board provides guidelines for medical treatment for doctors to follow. These guidelines permit your health care provider to carry out the majority of your medical procedures without asking the insurance company for authorization.

Following your doctor's advice can be a great help in your case. If the defendant or insurance company observes that you've been skipping appointments and playing tennis on weekends, despite your injuries, they might argue that your injuries aren't as serious as you claim. On the other hand, if you're constantly seeing health care professionals and getting extensive medical treatments then they'll have to acknowledge that your injuries are serious.

Lost Wages

Injuries can be physically painful however, they can also be financially devastating. The expenses associated with treatment typically add up quickly, and victims of injuries must also cope with lost earnings while recovering from their injuries. If you have missed work due to injury, you could be entitled compensation.

The process of proving lost wages is a lengthy and complicated procedure that requires specific documentation. In addition to medical narratives it is important to make copies of your pay stubs and tax documents. These documents can be used by your attorney to demonstrate the total amount of lost income because of your injury.

Your lost wages could comprise your regular hourly or salaried earnings, potential overtime, bonus payments, commissions and more. It could also include benefits you're not receiving, like free meals, car allowances or health benefits.

You are also entitled to a reimbursement for days you've had to use vacation or sick time to make up for the hours you missed due to your injuries. Your lawyer can calculate the fair market value of these days, and request reimbursement from the parties accountable. If your injury lawyer is irreparable, your lawyer can also pursue compensation for future earnings potential. This is a more difficult process that involves hiring an accountant or forensic accountant in order to show your loss of future earning potential.

Medical Expenses

You could be faced with huge medical bills, based on the extent of the injury. This can put a burden on your finances. Serious injuries may also prevent you from earning income and working for a considerable amount of time. This could result in an financial burden on you and injury your loved ones.

You are entitled to compensation for all medical expenses related to it, including ambulance rides, doctor visits, x-rays and doctor visits, hospital treatment, medicines, supplies and orthopedic equipment. You are also entitled to reimbursement for travel expenses to and from medical appointments (including therapy). Keep receipts for all medical expenses. You will be reimbursed based on actual expenses.

To help negotiate, attorneys and insurance companies will often use your billed amounts as the starting point to calculate medical special damages. Then, they multiply that number by a factor of 1.5 to 5 to calculate your general damages. In general, minor injuries are at the lower end the spectrum, while the more serious or prolonged ones will be at the top of the spectrum.

The Kocian Law Group is skilled in ensuring that you get all medical-related compensation which you are entitled. We will fight to get insurers to pay for the full amount of treatment that your doctor recommends -- even if the insurance company denies the necessity or reasonableness of the treatment.

Pain and Suffering

The person who is injured has the right to compensation for his or her emotional and physical pain. The physical pain and damages can include the treatment that was previously administered and any future ones. Discomfort, mental anguish, embarrassment, shock, and sadness are also possible.

It is difficult to put a price on the pain and stress caused by an accident, injury especially when it involves permanent injuries such as being confined to the wheelchair or blinded. It is crucial that victims of accidents have the support of an attorney to gather sufficient evidence to prove their losses.

In some instances, the party who was injured may negotiate a settlement to avoid a trial. In the majority of cases an insurance company is involved in the settlement agreement. The insurance company may use either the multiplier method or per-diem to calculate pain and damages.

Both the multiplier and per diem techniques are utilized by courts to determine the compensation for emotional and physical pain and suffering suffered by accident victims. Both methods have advantages and disadvantages however, the amount will be determined by the jury in the case. An attorney who specializes in personal injury cases can assist victims of accidents in gathering evidence to support their claim. Adam S. Kutner & Associates lawyers can assist you in the investigation of your case and help you prepare it for court or a settlement.