When people consider the damages that they might be able to receive by filing a personal injury claim, they often focus on the biggest expenses, such as medical bills and the wages they lost. Not everyone realizes that there are a number of out-of-pocket expenses you might have sustained that can quickly add up to significant numbers.
Knowing exactly which losses you can claim is essential if you’ve been in an accident and suffered losses in Maryland. Here’s what you need to know about out-of-pocket expenses and what they can mean for your claim.
What Are Out-Of-Pocket Expenses?
Out-of-pocket expenses refer to anything you pay out of your pocket after suffering an accident someone else caused. Typically, out-of-pocket expenses include those that don’t fit into any categories. Because these are costs that you would not have incurred if the accident hadn’t occurred, you have a right to claim them.
To be compensated for these expenses, they must be necessary and reasonable. Remember that you’ll have to negotiate for reimbursement with insurance companies that may do everything they can to minimize your claim, so proving that all of the expenses were necessary is vital.
Common Types Of Out-Of-Pocket Expenses In Maryland
Whether you’ve been in a car accident, suffered injuries because of medical malpractice, or experienced any other incident where you sustained injuries, there are some general types of out-of-pocket expenses that you may be able to claim.
Miscellaneous Medical Expenses
Aside from the cost of treatments and hospital stays, you can also sustain a number of other medical-related losses. These include the costs of medications and medical equipment.
For example, if you suffered a spinal cord injury and require assistance moving, you’ll have to purchase medical devices like wheelchairs. Not only that, but you may need to adjust your home to accommodate a disability. All of these can count as out-of-pocket expenses.
Make sure to monitor your copays and deductibles since you can claim these as well. Every time you go to the hospital to get treatment, you may also need to pay a parking fee. That fee may seem negligible, but it can rapidly add up over time. Keep those receipts.
Travel-Related Expenses
If you were in a traffic collision, there are numerous expenses that you may not even have considered including in your claim. Towing costs are one. If your car was totaled, the towing company can charge a significant amount, and the rates for towing a vehicle can be much higher when there’s a collision involved.
If the car goes directly to a mechanic, you’ll likely have to pay a storage fee until it’s repaired or sent to the junkyard. It may be days before you get a response from the insurance company about your vehicle’s fate, which means you’re accruing a serious storage debt in the meantime.
If your car requires repairs or is totaled, you’re left without transportation. This could mean needing to rent another vehicle or turning to public transportation or ridesharing services. All of these options can be costly, especially if you need to rely on them for more than a week.
In some instances, you may need to travel out of town to receive appropriate medical care. These are further travel-related expenses that could leave you with more losses.
Childcare Services
After suffering an injury requiring a hospital stay or extensive treatment, you may need to arrange childcare services to watch over your children. Even if you don’t need to spend time at the hospital, your injuries could make regular child care impossible. That could mean hiring in-home help, which tends to be an expensive service.
Personal Care Services
The injuries you sustained could be serious enough that you can’t take care of your own needs and require having home assistance. Hiring a nurse or occupational therapist to help with bathing, cooking, and dressing services can cost you a small fortune.
You may also need to hire someone to keep your home clean and manage daily tasks like taking the trash out.
Fighting For Fair Compensation In Maryland
Suffering injuries because of another party’s conduct can mean not only dealing with pain but also suffering financial losses of all types. Filing a claim can help you get compensation to cover medical expenses, lost wages, and out-of-pocket expenses. To give yourself the best chance of achieving a fair settlement, it’s essential that you hire a personal injury lawyer to represent you.
At Alpert Schreyer Personal Injury Lawyers, our seasoned team of Maryland lawyers can offer the compassionate representation you need after suffering an injury. We are fierce negotiators who readily take on insurance companies to protect our clients’ rights. Don’t wait to receive the legal guidance you need. Contact our team today at (301) 932-9997 for a free consultation today.