What Expenses Can I Include in Out-of-Pocket Costs?
Any reasonable, necessary expense can be included as damages in your case. Each person sustains different out-of-pocket costs based on the specific circumstances of their injuries, medical treatment, and recovery. However, some common out-of-pocket expenses that many injury victims sustain include:
Expenses Related to Your Injuries and Recovery
Not all expenses you incur are direct medical costs, such as doctors’ bills, hospital costs, and physical therapy. You could also incur costs for:
- Over-the-counter medications
- Prescription drugs
- Medical supplies, such as bandages, alcohol swabs, and wraps
- The reasonable cost paid to someone to care for your children
- The cost of medical equipment, such as bedside toilets, walkers, crutches, wheelchairs, etc.
- The cost of hiring someone to clean your home and perform other household chores
- The expense of hiring someone to assist you with the activities of daily living, including dressing, bathing, eating, etc.
You need to keep detailed records of each expense and payment. Ask for written invoices, bills, receipts, and statements. Whenever possible, pay by check or card to have a payment record. If you pay by cash, ask for a written receipt with the party’s name and contact information for verification.
Cost of Traveling To and From Medical Appointments
The cost of going to the doctor can be expensive for some individuals. For example, if your injuries prevent you from driving, you might need to hire someone to drive you to and from medical appointments. Sometimes, a person might need to ride in a medical transport to a doctor’s appointment.
If you do not have a vehicle, you might have the cost of bus fares, taxis, or rideshare fees. Even if you have a car and can drive, you must pay for gasoline and parking fees. Additionally, if you need to travel out of town and stay overnight for medical treatment, you incur the cost of a hotel and meals. You may include the cost of transportation to medical appointments in your out-of-pocket expenses. However, you need to document the expenses for reimbursement.
Disability or Impairment Expenses
Some accident injuries result in permanent impairment or disability. For example, a car accident could result in amputation or loss of a limb. As a result, the victim may require a prosthetic device, which could require additional physical training, occupational training, and future medical costs.If a victim sustains a spinal cord injury that results in paralysis, they may need to modify their home or vehicle for wheelchair access. Those costs can be very expensive and would not have been necessary had it not been for the personal injury.
