A personal injury in Reno can wreck both your health and your financial well-being. From mounting medical bills and lost wages to property damage and other unforeseen expenses, the impact can be overwhelming. A Reno personal injury lawyer, like one from Lerner and Rowe, can help you navigate the complex legal process and secure the compensation you deserve.
When you’re dealing with a Reno personal injury claim or lawsuit, you need to assess your immediate needs and determine how much money you need to cover your medical costs and essential living expenses. Let’s take a closer look at the steps you need to take after suffering a personal injury in Reno so that you can retake control of your life.
Medical Expenses after a Personal Injury in Reno
The costs of a car accident can be staggering. According to the National Safety Council (NSC), disabling car accidents can cost $162,000. So, what should you do about medical expenses after a car crash in Reno?
On average, an ambulance costs $1,000. If you can’t work, even with savings, medical costs start piling up pretty quickly. While you are working on a settlement, here are some strategies to help mitigate medical expenses:
- Seek immediate medical attention to document any injuries and share with any involved insurance companies.
- If you have concerns about paying for immediate medical expenses, consider working with your healthcare provider to start a medical lien. A medical lien will allow a healthcare provider to be paid out of your settlement later. A lawyer can advise on how this option may apply to your injury claim.
- Contact a Reno personal injury law firm for a free consultation to learn how to protect your best interests and more about your legal options.
Lost Wages Related to a Reno Personal Injury Claim
If your Reno personal injury impedes your ability to work, start looking at alternative income options immediately. Here are some possible options for replacing lost wages:
- If possible, access short-term and long-term disability benefits
- Use any banked sick or vacation time
- Look for government assistance programs to help you cover things like groceries and energy expenses while you are away from work because of your injuries
- If you have mortgage unemployment insurance, consider using it if you cannot work
- Ask for a temporary loan forbearance for car payments
- Reach out to family and friends for help running errands, rides to medical appointments, child and pet care, housecleaning, etc.
Make sure that you keep track of how many work hours you’ve missed and other unplanned living expenses you had to cover because of your injuries. This documentation can be used by a personal injury attorney to calculate total losses that should be recovered because of another’s negligence or recklessness.
When to Contact Your Employer after a Personal Injury in Reno
It would help if you contacted your employer to inform them about your injury as soon as possible. Your human resource representative can assist you with accessing disability benefits if offered. Long-term absence due to injury is protected by the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA). FMLA entitles you to have up to twelve weeks of absence with unpaid leave to deal with a serious health condition. Additionally, it lets you keep your healthcare benefits.
Employers are generally flexible with short-term issues arising from a personal injury and there are laws in place designed to protect employees who wish to return to work after they are in a serious injury. Most importantly, the law ensures that your health benefits are protected if you are injured.
Why You Should Consult With a Northern Nevada Personal Injury Lawyer
A personal injury lawyer will not cost any extra money. Reno personal injury attorneys, like Lerner and Rowe, work on a contingency basis; meaning they don’t get paid until you receive a settlement.
A personal injury lawyer will also help move your claim along within the required time limits, establish expenses from your accident, and help bring you closer so that you can move forward with your life.
Conversely, pursuing your injury case pro se (without legal representation) can be problematic. Consider Fulkerson v Costco. In this case, the plaintiff did not hire a lawyer. Ultimately, the case was plagued by Fulkerson’s inability to react to the defendant’s motions. Costco filed a motion to recoup legal fees, ultimately unopposed, and the court granted the motion.
Working with a personal injury lawyer like Lerner and Rowe will help recover lost wages, expenses, and other costs associated with your case.
Obtaining Documentation for Your Claim
As previously mentioned, you need to keep meticulous records while dealing with your Reno personal injury. However, if you have trouble with this step, know that lawyers have the resources and support staff to get access to needed records to proceed with a personal injury case. For example:
- They can send subpoenas to get information on records and documentation from other parties in your case.
- They can get medical records from signed authorizations to help determine medical expenses.
- During the discovery phase, if your case goes to trial, they can also get access to other records and information that could potentially help establish damages in your case.
Just make sure that you keep copies of everything that you submit to the police, insurance companies, and medical professionals when possible.
Contact Lerner and Rowe After a Personal Injury in Reno
Lerner and Rowe’s Reno personal injury attorney is active in Washoe County and has a proven record of success representing Northern Nevada injury victims in and out of court. Call 775-644-4444 today to schedule your free consultation, taking a much-needed step in the right direction towards your recovery and maximizing your entitled settlement.