Can I Receive Compensation For Future Medical Expenses?
A Guide To Claiming Compensation For Future Medical Expenses
During this guide, the focus shall be on whether claimants can claim compensation for future medical expenses.
In order to claim medical expenses, you first must establish whether you are eligible to make a personal injury claim. We cover three types of personal injury claims: accidents at work, public liability and road traffic accidents.
For a claim to be valid, there are criteria in place you must satisfy. The criteria define negligence, which is a failure to adhere to a duty of care placed on a third party causing injury.
Additionally, we will provide some examples of medical expenses you might be able to claim and some examples of evidence that could be used to prove your medical costs.
Furthermore, we have provided a compensation section that features a table of compensation brackets.
If you are interested, please continue reading the guide until the end. Our penultimate section covers the benefits of claiming with a No Win No Fee solicitor.
Alternatively, you can contact one of our advisors for free today. After a free consultation, they can assess the facts of your case and advise you on your next step. They may even connect you with one of our specialist solicitors who have expertise in cases similar to your own. Contact us by:
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- Phone 0800 073 8804.
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Pick A Topic
- Can I Receive Compensation For Future Medical Expenses?
- Future Medical Expenses You Could Claim For
- Proving Your Personal Injury Claim
- What Compensation Could You Receive For Your Injuries?
- How To Claim Compensation For Future Medical Expenses With A No Win No Fee Solicitor
- Read More About Claiming For Special Damages
Can I Receive Compensation For Future Medical Expenses?
Following an accident, you may be left with injuries that necessitate the need for care or prolonged treatment and medication. This can be expensive, but you may be able to claim for medical expenses as part of a personal injury claim. As you go about your daily life, certain third parties owe you a duty of care, such as:
In this instance, employers under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 owe a duty of care to take reasonable steps to maintain a safe working environment and to prevent injuries to their employees.
In public, under the Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957, those who are in control of a public space must ensure that they take steps to keep those members of the public who are using the space for its intended purpose reasonably safe.
Whilst on the roads, all road users have a duty of care to one another. Road users must navigate the roads in a safe manner so as not to cause injury, harm or damage to themselves or others. This means abiding by the rules in the Road Traffic Act 1988 and the Highway Code.
To be eligible to make a personal injury claim, you will need to meet the following criteria:
- Firstly, you were owed a duty of care.
- Secondly, there was a breach of duty.
- Finally, this breach was the cause of your injuries.
Additionally, you should begin legal proceedings within the standard claim time limits, which is generally three years from the accident date, outlined in the Limitation Act 1980. However, there are exceptions that can prolong the limitation period.
Our solicitors have a wealth of knowledge and experience in personal injury claims. This experience can be crucial when dealing with challenges. If you are interested in hiring the services of a proficient solicitor, contact Legal Expert today.
Future Medical Expenses You Could Claim For
If you make a successful personal injury claim, you can be awarded up to two heads of loss. General damages, which we will discuss further down and special damages. The latter reimburses claimants or provides funds for the past, present and future financial losses. Under the head of special damages are medical expenses.
If you are eligible to make a personal injury claim and your injuries necessitate paid medical care, this can be taken into consideration. However, you should always check before paying out for any medical fees that these costs can be reimbursed. If the costs are unreasonable or the medication or treatment could have been funded in a different way, the third party may dispute them.
Here are some examples of medical expenses you could claim:
- Private medical expenses. For example, for treatment that is unavailable on the NHS.
- Medical aids. Some examples are crutches, hearing aids or glasses.
- Prescriptions. Medication for injury or illness.
- Home adaptations. Life-changing injuries could mean you need adaptations to your home, such as a stairlift.
- Care costs. If you require care due to a brain injury.
If you would like more information regarding compensation for future medical expenses, you should contact one of our advisors. They can give you a free consultation and advise you on what to do next.
Proving Your Personal Injury Claim
Suppose you have suffered a personal injury in an accident and have decided to claim compensation. In that case, you should provide as much sufficient evidence to have a better chance of a successful claim.
Some of the evidence you could collect we have listed below:
- Collect name and contact information from eyewitnesses.
- If you are at work, record your accident in the accident workbook.
- Seek adequate medical attention and get your medical records.
- Keep hold of financial expenses such as receipts and bank statements.
- Collect CCTV or dashcam footage if available
- Take images of any visible injuries and/or the accident scene
These steps can be a good way to start a personal injury claim. Our solicitors can help clients collect evidence for their case as part of their service. They can also advise you on what to do next. If you would like to learn more, contact our advisors for free.
What Compensation Could You Receive For Your Injuries?
After achieving a successful claim, your compensation settlement may comprise two heads of claim called general and special damages.
General damages accounts for the physical pain and psychological injury.
To give you an idea of how general damages are calculated, we have provided a table of compensation brackets taken from the Judicial College Guidelines. These guidelines are often used by professionals to help them value claims.
| Injury | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tetraplegia | £324,600 – £403,990 | At the top end of the bracket will be cases where physical pain is present or where there is a significant effect on senses or ability to communicate. |
| Moderately Severe Brain Injury | £219,070 – £282,010 | Substantial dependence on others, and disabilities such as limb paralysis or impaired intellect. |
| Loss of Both Hands | £140,660 – £201,490 | Serious damage resulting in total or effective loss of both hands. |
| Severe Back Injury (i) | £91,090 – £160,980 | Incomplete paralysis and impairment of bowels, sexual function and bladder. |
| Loss of One Arm (i) | £109,650 – £130,930 | Injuries resulting in an above-elbow amputation. |
| Severe (i) Hip/Pelvis Injury | £78,400 – £130,930 | Substantial residual disabilities resulting in sexual dysfunction, deformity and lessened control of bowels. |
| Very Severe Leg Injuries (ii) | £54,830 – £87,890 | Permanent problems with mobility and constant need for mobility aids. |
| Wrist Injuries (a) | £47,620 – £59,860 | Arthrodesis has been performed. |
| Elbow Injuries (a) | £39,170 – £54,830 | Injuries that are severely disabling. |
| Moderate Neck Injuries (i) | £24,990 – £38,490 | Injuries leaving impaired function and vulnerability to further trauma. |
The compensation brackets are for guidance: they are not guaranteed amounts for a successful claim due to the individual nature of each case.
If you would like a claim valued, feel free to contact us today. We can offer a free consultation and advise you on what to do next.
Special Damages
After an injury, it is not uncommon for someone to have additional costs that they must pay for. If so, you can include these losses in your personal injury claim as special damages.
Special damages are there so that any costs that have been accrued or future costs relating to the injuries can be reimbursed; this includes medical expenses. You can find some examples of medical expenses earlier in this guide. However, special damages are not limited to medical expenses. You may also be able to claim for:
- Travel costs.
- Loss of earnings.
- Damage to possessions.
For more information about how much compensation for future medical expenses you could be owed, contact us today.
How To Claim Compensation For Future Medical Expenses With A No Win No Fee Solicitor
The aftermath of an injury can be a chaotic and confusing time. But don’t worry, Legal Expert are here to help. We can offer you support and advice on what to do next.
The thought of taking legal action can be daunting. If so, you could opt to make a claim with a No Win No Fee solicitor.
For instance, your solicitor will not charge you any upfront fees to begin your claim or any ongoing fees whilst the claim is in progress.
In the event of a successful claim, your solicitor will take a percentage of your compensation. Success fees have a ceiling they can’t exceed, as outlined by the Conditional Fee Agreements Order 2013. Furthermore, you will usually agree on the percentage before legal proceedings begin, therefore, you have transparency and clarity.
How To Get In Touch With A No Win No Fee Solicitor?
You should be aware that not every solicitor will agree to take your case on a No Win No Fee basis. However, here at Legal Expert, we have a team of experienced No Win No Fee solicitors who all work on this basis. Take the first step today and contact us for free:
- Phone 0800 073 8804.
- Contact us by filling out our online form.
- Speak to an advisor over our live chat pop-up window.
Read More About Claiming For Special Damages
Below we have included a range of links that also include information about claiming compensation for future medical expenses.
Internal links:
- How to prove a car accident wasn’t your fault.
- How to prove an accident at work.
- Making a public liability claim.
External links:
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