What Future Medical Costs Could A Burn Injury Require?

If you've experienced a burn injury and are seeking compensation, you have more than just your current medical expenses to consider. There are future costs associated with many burn injuries. Before you settle or go to court, you'll need to determine the true and complete costs of your injury to ensure that you are fairly compensated.

Physical Therapy Costs

Burn injuries are often difficult to treat because they cause both nerve damage and scarring. Without physical therapy, it's possible that you might not recover use of the area that's been burned. You may need to continue physical therapy for some time to rebuild your nerves and to recover feeling in the area. 

Pain and Suffering Costs

It's often said that pain and suffering is very difficult to prove, and it is. Furthermore, due to tort law, it can be difficult to pursue these types of damages against companies. Nevertheless, a burn injury is likely to involve some amount of pain and suffering. Your lawyer can give you more information.

Cosmetic Surgery

Due to the scars that burns often generate, burn victims may require cosmetic surgery to be restored to their previous physical appearance. Cosmetic surgery can be expensive and may need to be done over time. A cosmetic surgery could involve dozens of smaller surgeries, as you will need to heal between stages. Consequently, you'll have future medical expenses related to your cosmetic restoration.

Lost Wages

Some burns may be so significant that they could damage your long-term earning potential. You may not be able to work full-time or at all, depending on how significant the burns were. Your lawyer will calculate the amount of your lost wages moving forward.

Psychological Therapy

Psychological therapy is often mistaken as being a "pain and suffering" cost, but it's a medical cost. If you're going to have continued psychological therapy for your burn injury, you will be able to get reimbursed for these future therapy costs. In general, anything that has a tangible amount attached to it is not going to be pain and suffering; pain and suffering is awarded when there isn't a direct monetary valuable to the amount of emotional trauma you've experienced.

A burn injury attorney at firms like Salley Law Firm PA can help you determine how much money you will need to make yourself whole. Depending on the severity of your injury, you may need to pursue significant damages to ensure that you are covered in the future.