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The Cost of a Personal Injury in NH

Posted by Unknown | Jun 12, 2014 | 0 Comments

When you or a loved one are seriously injured in an accident in New Hampshire, it is important to speak to an attorney in order to make sure that you get the compensation that you deserve. There are many costs that can arise when a person is hurt. In addition to medical bills, a family could accrue other expenses such as lost wages from the victim's inability to work or the cost of funeral expenses in the case of wrongful death.

Medical bills are one of the biggest immediate concerns to many injured individuals. This is especially true if the injury has rendered the victim with a permanent disability or they have experienced a catastrophic injury. Catastrophic injuries such as head or brain injuries or spinal damage can lead to paralysis and a number of other side effects which can make it difficult for the victim to work and may require a lifetime of care. When an individual is hurt, it is important that they understand how it will affect their entire financial future. For example, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) found that catastrophic spinal cord injuries suffered in accidents can cost on average about $15,000 to $30,000 a year in medical expenses. Over the course of a person's lifetime they can expect to spend between $500,000 to more than $3 million on care for their condition.

Though some injured parties may think that medical expenses are the biggest financial burden they will face, lost wages can sometimes account for bigger losses. Though no money has to be paid out, a family loses income when a family member is killed or rendered unable to work. Even if it is only for a short period of time, most families cannot afford to have a breadwinner stop working, even for a few weeks.

When relating to personal injury, these factors are often referred to as the cost of care. When they relate to wrongful death, they can be referred to as cost of life. The average amount of care for death or injury in the United States varies depending on the circumstances.

According to cost of injury reports by the CDC, in 2005 the average total cost of a death due to an unintentional accident was about $902,394. This statistic includes average medical expenses of $11,670 and $890,723 in lost wages. The National Safety Council estimates that average the average annual cost for a minor injury can still range from $2,400-$27,200, a non-incapacitating injury costs on average about $57,400 and an incapacitating injury costs about $225,000 annually. They state that the cost of an injury can only be estimated depending on the specific factors of the case. Estimates are based on the cost of dollars spent and income not received due to an injury that prevented the victim from working.

It is very important for anyone who experiences an injury to speak to an attorney before reaching an agreement with the insurance company. Only a personal injury lawyer will look out for your best interests and make sure that you are being fairly compensated to cover all of your expenses. This includes medical expenses as well as any additional treatments that may be needed down the line due to your injury. If you or someone in your family has been hurt in an accident in New Hampshire, call an injury attorney right away.

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