Calculating Future Losses for Your Personal Injury Claim

Feb 09,2018

When determining how much compensation to seek for your personal injury claim, you need to determine not only what your current medical bills and damages are, but also what your future losses will be. This is especially true if the injury was severe and life-altering, and affects your ability to work.

In some cases, an injury that disables a person can qualify them for Social Security disability benefits. However, not everyone who has suffered a serious injury will qualify for these benefits. Sometimes, even after a severe and disabling injury, you might still be considered “able” to adjust to a new profession. If you are unable to continue working in the same capacity as you were before your injury, you will want to seek damages for loss of future earnings.

Determining Loss of Future Earnings

Here are some factors that will come into play for determining your future losses:

Assessment of your injuries and timeline of prospective recovery
In cases where full recovery is not expected or injuries are long-term, an assessment of your limitations for employment
Forecast of income you would have received had you not been injured
Forecast of income you are likely to receive going forward with your injury
Any potential promotion or advancement in your career you could reasonably have expected to achieve

In addition to this documentation, you will probably also need an economic expert witness specializing in occupations. Along with your doctors and attorney, the expert can determine the amount of income you would reasonably have made had you not been injured.

Other Future Loss Considerations

You also need to consider other future costs, such as ongoing care for your injuries. This might require the testimony of a medical expert who can explain what costs you will incur in the future for reasonably necessary treatment.

“Calculating future losses can be complicated, but our firm is experienced in determining this number for our clients,” said Attorney Walter Clark, founder of Walter Clark Legal Group.

Our firm has been handling personal injury cases throughout the California Low Desert and High Desert communities for over 30 years. With a 95% success rate, the California personal injury attorneys at Walter Clark Legal Group will fight to hold those responsible for your loss accountable and win compensation to cover medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. If you have been injured and want to discuss your legal options, contact us today for a free consultation with an experienced personal injury lawyer. We have offices in Indio, Rancho Mirage, Victorville, and Yucca Valley and represent clients through the entire California Low Desert and High Desert communities.

DISCLAIMER: The Walter Clark Legal Group blog is intended for general information purposes only and is not intended as legal or medical advice. References to laws are based on general legal practices and vary by location. Information reported comes from secondary news sources. We do handle these types of cases, but whether or not the individuals and/or loved ones involved in these accidents choose to be represented by a law firm is a personal choice we respect. Should you find any of the information incorrect, we welcome you to contact us with corrections.