Drunk drivers can change the course of your life in an instant. In the blink of an eye, you may find yourself dealing with serious injuries and significant damage to your vehicle—and your bank account. If you were injured by a drunk driver, you’re not alone. In Virginia in 2017, 7,285 drunk driving accidents injured 4,430 and killed 248. If a drunk driver injured you, you may have the right to seek compensation from the driver and/or his insurance company. Here is an overview of some of the types of compensation you may have a right to recover.
Medical Expenses
Following a drunk driving accident, medical expenses can mount quickly. Even if you have health insurance that covers some of your medical expenses, may face still significant medical bills for services your plan doesn’t cover or because of the size of your deductible. These may include:- The cost of transport to the hospital. Ambulance rides aren’t cheap.
- Hospital emergency department care. Immediately after your accident, you may need to be seen in a hospital emergency department or urgent care facility. Unless you are fully conscious and aware of what’s happening, you may not have much ability to decide what kind of services you receive there, which can lead to some large expenses piling up.
- Ongoing care. Do you require ongoing medical visits for your injuries? That ongoing care is part of the compensation you can ask for after your accident.
- Physical therapy. After your accident, you may need significant physical therapy to help you get back to normal. The cost of weekly (or daily) visits to PT can add up in a hurry.
- Changes to your home or vehicle. In the case of serious injuries, you may need to make changes to your home or vehicle to assist you in getting around. Some of these modifications can cost tens of thousands of dollars.
