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(314) 500-HURTOut-of-pocket expenses are a type of compensatory damage awarded to a plaintiff in a personal injury that does not fall under the typical categories of medical expenses, lost wages non-economic damages and punitive damages.
Out-of-pocket expenses are a type of economic damage, or the compensation you receive as reimbursement for the financial losses you sustained because of your injuries. There are typically three aspects of economic damages in a personal injury case:
Out-of-pocket expenses are any other expenses you had to pay yourself as a direct result of your injuries. They can include:
The costs of going to and from medical and physical therapy appointments can add up. Whether you used a ridesharing service such as Uber, public transportation, or your own car, keep a record of all your receipts and expenses, including mileage and gas used and parking fees if you drove yourself. If your medical needs forced you to seek a specialist in a different town, you can also make a recovery for your hotel stay and meals.
An injury can disrupt our daily lives, and you might need to pay for professional assistance just to get chores or other daily tasks done. Some household expenses you can make a claim for include:
If your injury results in disability, you may have to make a variety of modifications to your home and your family’s vehicle in order to function as normally as possible. This can include special guardrails in the bathroom or wheelchair ramps or lifts to your home and vehicle.
It is important to remember that as the injured party you are expected to mitigate your damages, or not incur unreasonable fees. While you can easily recover compensation for help with household chores, having someone remodel the kitchen and claiming it is part of your accident expenses is unlikely to work. Likewise, you cannot go to a simple physical therapy appointment in Paris, France, stay at the Ritz-Carlton and claim it is all part of your out-of-pocket expenses.
The insurance company may initially say that your expenses were unreasonable or unnecessary. In order to make a successful claim for out-of-pockets expenses, you will need to have complete records of every dollar you spent, including:
As long as you kept detailed records, a personal injury attorney will be able to calculate the full extent of your damages and negotiate with the insurance adjuster on your behalf.
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