What Is Injury Compensation?

Injury compensation is money paid to help injured people pay for losses that result from workplace-related accidents. These losses include medical expenses, lost wages, future income, and loss of enjoyment from life.

You can obtain this money in two ways: through a settlement, or filing a lawsuit. A lawyer can look over your case and explain which option is best for you.

Medical Treatment

Medical treatment is a significant aspect of your injury claim. The insurance company will pay for the necessary and reasonable medical treatment. This includes medical bills for health professionals and specialist. Also, you can get reimbursement for prescriptions and over-the counter medicines, while you travel to and from medical appointments.

Based on the severity of your injuries, you may require aids for mobility, such as canes, wheelchairs or specialized clothing. You can also claim reimbursement to make home modifications like ramps and stairlifts. Medical expenses include diagnostic tests needed to diagnose your injuries and evaluate your recovery. You can also claim the cost of surgery that is necessary to treat your injuries. The Workers' Compensation Board has medical treatment guidelines that doctors must follow. These guidelines allow your health care provider to perform the majority of your treatment without asking the insurance company for permission.

Continuously adhering to your health care professional's recommendations can significantly help your case. If the insurance company or the defendant notices that you've missed appointments or playing tennis on weekends despite your claimed injuries, they will argue that your injuries aren't as severe as you claim. If you're regularly visiting healthcare professionals and receiving massive medical care and treatment, they might have to admit that your injuries were serious.

Lost Wages

The effects of injuries are not just physically painful, but they can cause financial damage as well. The costs of treatment could quickly mount up as injured victims must deal with the loss of earnings while they recover from their injuries. If your injury attorneys caused you to not be able to work, you could be entitled to compensation for the time you've missed.

Proving that you lost wages is a difficult process that requires specific evidence. It's important to include copies of your pay stubs from the past as well as income tax documentation. These documents can be utilized by your lawyer to show the total amount of lost earnings because of your accident.

Your lost wages can comprise your regular hourly wage or salary, possible overtime bonuses, commissions, and much more. They can also include any perks that you are no longer receiving, such as free meals, car allowances, or health benefits.

You may also be able to claim compensation for the days you didn't work due to injury, since you were forced to take vacation or sick leave to cover the days. Your lawyer can determine the fair value of these days and seek payment from the responsible party. If your injury is permanent the lawyer can claim compensation for the loss of future earning capacity. This is a more complex process that involves hiring an expert actuary or forensic accountant who can demonstrate your loss of future earning potential.

Medical expenses

You could be facing huge medical bills, based on the extent of your injury lawyer. This can stress on your financial situation. Serious injuries can also prevent you from working and earning a decent amount of time, which places a financial burden on you and your family.

You are entitled compensation for all medical expenses related to your condition, such as ambulance rides, doctor's appointments, x-rays and hospital treatment. This includes the cost of supplies medication, medical supplies, injured and orthopedic devices. 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 costs.

Insurance companies and attorneys frequently utilize your medical bills as a starting point to calculate damages specific to you. They then multiply this amount by an amount of 1.5 to 5 to calculate general damages. Generally, minor injuries will be on the low end of the spectrum and long-lasting injuries will be on the higher end.

The Kocian Law Group is skilled in ensuring that you receive all medical-related compensation to which you are entitled. We will fight for insurers to cover the entire amount of treatment the health care provider recommends -- even if the insurance company disputes the necessity or reasonableness of the treatment.

Suffering and Pain

The victim of an injury has the right to be compensated for the physical and emotional pain and suffering caused by his or her injuries. Physical suffering and pain damages could include past and future medical treatment. In the case of mental discomfort and anxiety as well as shock, shame, and sadness could also be taken into consideration.

It is difficult to put an amount on the pain and suffering that comes from an accident, particularly when permanent injuries are involved, such as being in a wheelchair or blinded. However, it is vital for accident victims to have the support of an attorney in obtaining the proper evidence to prove their loss.

In certain cases the party who was injured will reach a settlement without having to go to trial. In most cases an insurance company is involved in a settlement agreement. The insurance company might make use of a multiplier or injured per diem method to determine the amount of pain and suffering.

The courts use the multiplier method as well as the per diem method for determining compensation for emotional and physical trauma caused by accidents. Both methods have their advantages and disadvantages, however the final amount will be decided by the jury. An attorney for personal injury can help accident victims gather evidence to support a strong claim. Adam S. Kutner & Associates Attorneys can assist you with the investigation of your case and help you prepare it for court or a settlement.