Right after your accident on the railroad, you may want to kickstart your Federal Employers’ Liability Act (FELA) claim against your negligent employer. This is understandable, as you may want to submit in time for the statute of limitations, which is generally three years. Even if you wait longer to get a better idea of how much this accident has cost you thus far, if your injuries are long-term or permanent, there is no way around having to incorporate future medical expenses. Without further ado, please continue reading to learn how to calculate the monetary value of your future medical expenses and how one of the experienced FELA lawyers at Hildebrand McLeod & Nelson LLP can help you get the compensation you will most definitely need to support yourself going forward.
What counts as future medical expenses in a FELA claim?
In a FELA claim, you may seek to collect future medical expenses for all reasonable and necessary medical care that you will likely need due to your railroad injury. In other words, these cannot be hypothetical or speculative costs. So, to get a better understanding of these future costs, it is best to consult your current medical provider. They may offer their expert opinion on your expected healing timeline, given the factor that you will follow their prescribed treatment plan. Thus, their treatment plan may entail long-term medical expenses such as surgical procedures, physical therapy sessions, pain management counseling, prescription medications, handicap assistive devices, specialist appointments, at-home healthcare, and more.
How do I calculate the monetary value of my future medical expenses?
Now that you know everything you will likely have to pay for in the future, you need to determine how much all of this will ultimately cost you. Of course, you may have never required such intensive medical attention before, and therefore do not even have a general sense of reasonable rates for each treatment you will undergo. This may be especially true if you are not even sure when or if you can return to work, and thus, when or if you will ever engage in a company’s health insurance program for helpful coverage. What’s more, you may not be privy to seemingly unpredictable, external factors, like shifts in the economy. This is why one of our lawyers will hire a medical economist on your behalf to work on your case.
Namely, a medical economist may calculate the monetary value of each medical service recommended by your current medical provider. Then, they may adjust this total for inflation, regional healthcare costs, and anticipated increases in the price of medical care in the country. Without this professional analysis, you may ask the court for significantly less than what you are owed. What’s more, having this expert in your corner may make it more difficult for the defendant to challenge your claim as theoretical and inaccurate in an attempt to minimize your payout.
You should not let the pressure of creating a strong FELA claim rest solely on your shoulders. Please allow one of the skilled FELA lawyers to assist you through your legal strategy. We look forward to helping you build a case. Give us a call today.
