Recovering Monetary Damages and Settlement after Brain Injury – Medical Bills (Part I)
by BV on 28/07/09 at 7:31 am
Recovering Monetary Damages and Settlement after Brain Injury (Part I)
When a patient has sustained a traumatic brain injury, possessing the knowledge of the typical types of damages can be especially useful information when deciding whether to engage the services of an attorney. This article will be delivered in a four part series, each of which will address a different category of damages a plaintiff may be able to recover, depending on the facts of his/her individual case.
While the facts of every case will differ, there are several categories of “damages” for permanent brain injuries, from which a plaintiff may be able to recover – These include medical bills (short term and long term), loss of enjoyment of life, pain and suffering, and the recovery of past and future wages/earnings. Whether a plaintiff is entitled to any of these will depend entirely upon the facts of his or her case. Speaking with an experienced attorney in this field of law is the smartest idea if one is weighing options.
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Medical Bills
Family members of traumatic brain injury victims often are faced with an enormous financial obstacle by way of initial medical bills. Insurance adjusters may attempt to offer enticing payments to cover mounting medical bills, however, agreeing to such a deal will usually require the victim waive future claims claims for damages. A person in this situation should never enter into such an agreement, or sign anything until they have an attorney to advise them of their rights.
If a patient’s injuries have required an extended hospital stay including rehabilitation, medical bills will sometimes reach into the six-figure range. When a person is injured, often urgent care is necessary without inquiry into whether the victim has insurance or is able to pay for the services rendered.
In some situations medical bills may be seemingly small; however, there is no exact “per se” correlation between the severity of a brain injury and medical costs. If you believed you or a loved one has sustained a traumatic brain injury, it is important to hire an experienced brain injury attorney. In Virginia, the brain injury lawyers at The Law Offices of Richard J. Serpe, P.C. have a proven track record of success.
