A person harmed by someone who acted unreasonably can file a lawsuit against the unreasonable person or entity. These victims may seek damages that compensate them for medical bills, including surgery. Atlanta personal injury attorney Terrence R. Bethune has helped countless Georgia residents seek damages for medical expenses. If you required surgery because someone else acted negligently, you may have a right to compensation.
SURGICAL PATIENTS CAN SUE THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR INJURIES
According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center, the average spinal cord surgery patient spends 11 days in the surgical care unit. The patients will be treated for 36 days inside of rehab units. With a hospital stay of more than a month, they may rack up thousands of dollars in medical bills. Fortunately, people who require surgery for injuries caused by another person’s negligence can seek reimbursement for medical expenses.
Any number of injuries may require surgical intervention. Drivers or passengers involved in a truck or car accident often need surgery to treat broken bones or spinal cord injuries.
The victim of a car accident caused by a negligent driver can file a lawsuit to seek compensation for surgery and related costs. To recover these damages, the victim must prove:
- The responsible driver owed the victim a duty of reasonable care;
- The driver breached that duty; and
- The driver’s actions caused the victim’s injuries.
All drivers owe a duty of reasonable care to the people around them. This means that drivers must act with the same care as a hypothetical reasonable person would in a similar situation. For example, a driver who fails to yield the right of way drives drunk, or drifts out of a lane will have breached this duty. If any of these actions cause an accident that injures another driver, passenger, or pedestrian, the negligent driver may be legally liable.
CARELESS DEFENDANTS MAY BE ASKED TO REIMBURSE VICTIMS FOR MEDICAL EXPENSES
A victim who succeeds in an injury lawsuit can collect compensatory damages. One of the most common types of compensatory damages is medical expenses. A victim may be entitled to reimbursement of all the medical expenses incurred as a result of the defendant’s negligence. These can extend to ER visits, inpatient hospital bills, costs of surgery, outpatient doctor’s bills, physical therapy, and the cost of equipment and supplies. Any of these costs that the victim has incurred or will incur in the future may be compensable. In addition to medical expenses, victims may also collect compensation for lost wages, pain and suffering, disfigurement, emotional distress, and other financial, physical, or emotional injuries.
TRUST YOUR CASE TO AN EXPERIENCED ATLANTA LAWYER
A person facing surgery after an accident has any concerns, and paying for treatment should not be one of them. You may seek reimbursement to help you recover. Atlanta injury attorney Terrence R. Bethune is committed to helping Georgia residents pursue compensation for the costs of surgeries and other medical interventions. To schedule a free consultation with him, call (800)-465-8733 or visit our contact page.