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How Much Future Damages May be Worth in an Injury Claim

Posted on behalf of Arnold Law Firm in
Man calculating costs It is vital to calculate the cost of future damages so your attorney can pursue all the compensation you will need for damages caused by your personal injury. Your injuries may require more medical attention in the future. You may have a permanent disability that has forced you to make significant changes to get through each day, and these changes, such as home modifications, can cost a lot of money. You do not want to be left paying for future damages when your injury was caused by another’s negligence. Our personal injury attorneys in Sacramento are prepared to help you determine how much all your damages, including future damages, may be worth so we can make an appropriate demand for compensation from the liable party. The consultation is free and there are no upfront fees. Below, we discuss what factors must be considered to help determine the value of future damages.

Factors That Must Be Considered About the Victim

It is important to consider the unique circumstances of each injury victim when evaluating future damages and their potential value.

Life Expectancy and Lifestyle

Attorneys need to consider what the victim’s future may look like to determine what future damages the victim may suffer and how much they may be worth. Cases involving injury victims who had active lifestyles before their injuries may be worth more – these victims may want compensation for the loss of the ability to do some of the things they enjoyed before the accident. A person with a longer life expectancy who suffers a life-altering injury may be able to recover more compensation than someone with a shorter life expectancy.

Work and Household Status

An injury victim’s employment status, including his or her status as the primary earner for a household, is an important factor to consider. Someone who is not employed may not be able to recover damages for lost future income, while someone who must work less or in a different capacity as before may be able to claim these damages.

How Much Will Medical Care Cost?

The severity of the injuries suffered in an accident is also important to consider when considering the cost of future damages. Injury victims who suffer permanent injuries may require extended care and treatment, or perhaps follow-up procedures to help keep an injury stabilized. The victim’s doctor should be able to provide a clear picture of the treatment the victim may need. Meanwhile, your attorney may consult an economic expert to determine how much future treatment is likely to cost. Some examples of future medical expenses may include:
  • Surgery
  • Hospital stays
  • Home or vehicle modifications
  • In-home care costs
  • Costs of assisted living facilities
  • Prescription costs
  • Medical equipment costs
  • Rehabilitation therapy
With expert testimony from your treating doctor and your medical records as evidence of the extent of your injuries, you may be able to recover the compensation you need for these future costs of care.

Pain and Suffering Damages

Calculating the value of future pain and suffering is often one of the most difficult aspects of evaluating an injury claim. That is why this should be done with help from an experienced attorney who has detailed knowledge of these claims and the many factors involved. One of the main difficulties in proving the value of future pain and suffering is the subjective nature of these damages. Your lawyer needs to build a strong case to get the insurance company or jury on board with the value your lawyer assigns to pain and suffering. For example, if the victim suffered a permanent ankle injury and can no longer take part in marathons like he or she used to, the victim’s lawyer would need to show how the victim was a dedicated runner. Your lawyer might need testimony from friends and family members and others you ran marathons with. Your lawyer might show medals you won or pictures of you running with a smile on your face. Often, a victim’s pain and suffering is assigned a dollar figure for each day to calculate the value of his or her damages. If a person suffers a permanent injury, your lawyer would also need to factor in your life expectancy.

Call an Experienced Lawyer Today

If you were injured in an accident and are concerned about the future costs of your damages, you should strongly consider speaking to an experienced attorney who may be able to help you calculate the costs of those damages. Our knowledgeable attorneys are prepared to help determine the value of your claim and fight for the compensation you need. We do not charge you anything while we work on your case, and we only get paid if you do.

Call 916-777-7777 to schedule a free consultation.

Settlement - $3,767,000

Truck Accident

A 20-year-old man who had been married for just 12 days left home on his way to work. He was driving on Pleasant Grove Road in Sutter County in the early morning when he came upon a slow-moving truck. As he pulled out to pass the truck, the truck driver turned left in front of him. The young man attempted to steer back into his lane but his vehicle struck an un-flagged piece of metal extending from the back of the truck. He died in the resulting crash.

Expert witnesses brought in by the Arnold Law Firm proved that the truck, owned and operated by a hauling firm, should never have been on the highway that morning. Specifically, the rear and side turn signals did not work and the rear-view mirror was in a poor state of adjustment at the time of the collision. As a result, the driver, who had failed to properly inspect the vehicle before setting out that morning, couldn’t see the young man’s vehicle as it attempted to pass.

The poor condition of the truck, its lack of maintenance and the manner in which it was operated were found to be substantial factors in causing the collision that killed the young man. The testimony also established that the man had been making a lawful pass at the lawful speed limit and acted reasonably when he attempted to avoid the collision.

The man’s 20-year-old widow was awarded $3,767,000.77, his parents were awarded $185,131 and the family was reimbursed $11,899 in funeral expenses. Though money is a poor substitute for a young man’s life, this verdict demonstrates that drivers who endanger the lives of others will be held accountable for their actions.