When you’re injured in an accident, the impact on your life is rarely limited to only your first ambulance ride or the emergency room bill. For many people, serious injuries bring a cascade of medical needs that stretch far into the future, weeks, months, or even decades after the initial accident. For personal injury victims, this means that any final settlement must extend beyond “today’s bills” and include future care costs (Future Damages) to ensure a true financial recovery.
Jeff GOULD Law is the Attorney In YOUR Corner, and we know your compensation should reflect not just what you’ve already endured, but what you’ll continue to face moving forward and in the future. Here’s a closer look at how future care costs (Future Damages) are defined, calculated, and fought for in Arizona personal injury cases.
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What Counts as Future Care Costs?
Future care costs cover any ongoing or anticipated medical and life expenses that stem from your injury. These aren’t “extras”, they’re necessary support to help you heal, manage pain, or adapt to permanent changes in your health.
Examples include:
- Rehabilitation and Therapy: Ongoing physical, occupational, or speech therapy after head, spinal, or orthopedic injuries.
- Prescription Medications: From long-term pain management to blood thinners, antibiotics, or mental health support.
- Medical Devices: Wheelchairs, prosthetics, mobility aids, or technology that needs regular updating or replacement.
- Home and Vehicle Modifications: Ramps, widened doorways, stair lifts, or modified vehicles for independence.
- Long-Term Nursing or In-Home Care: For those who need daily assistance with basic activities or medical monitoring.
- Future Surgeries or Procedures: Many injuries, especially orthopedic ones, require revision surgeries years later.
Even if you’re on a path to recovery, the costs of staying healthy and independent can add up quickly. Ignoring these in your claim means you risk shouldering the financial burden yourself.
How Are These Costs Calculated?
Determining fair compensation for future care isn’t guesswork. Attorneys partner with medical experts, life care planners, and economists who use evidence-based methods to estimate long-term needs. Factors include:
Your Medical Prognosis
What your doctors expect in terms of healing, setbacks, or permanent limitations.
Life Expectancy
Younger victims often face decades of ongoing care, increasing total projected costs.
Inflation and Rising Costs
Medical expenses rarely stay static; projections must account for future increases.
Lifestyle Adjustments
Will you need to change jobs, rely on mobility aids, or restructure your home environment?
Treatment Plans
If your care team anticipates surgeries or interventions years from now, those must be factored in.
Why Future Care Costs Are Critical in Arizona Personal Injury Cases
Arizona law allows injured parties to seek compensation not just for past expenses but also for reasonably certain future medical costs (Future Damages). This is especially important because:
Settlements Are Final
Once you agree to a settlement, you can’t return later to request more money if your condition worsens.
Costs Add Up Fast
According to the CDC, the average lifetime cost of care for a severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) can range from $85,000 to $3 million or more, with severe injuries potentially exceeding $3 million.
Quality of Life Matters
Compensation isn’t just about surviving; it’s about ensuring you can live with dignity, independence, and support.
Without including future costs, you may appear “compensated” on paper but remain financially vulnerable in real life.
The Pushback: Insurance Companies and Future Costs
Insurance companies often argue that future care estimates (Future Damages) are “too speculative.” They may claim:
- You’ll heal faster than your doctors predict.
- Certain treatments won’t be necessary.
- Cheaper options exist than those recommended by your care team.
This is why having an attorney is so important. At Jeff GOULD Law, the Attorney In YOUR Corner, we gather detailed medical records, expert testimony, and real-world cost data to prove the validity of future care projections. The stronger your documentation, the harder it is for insurers to minimize or deny your needs.
Common Injuries That Involve Significant Future Care Costs
Not every injury results in long-term expenses, but certain categories almost always do. Examples include:
- Spinal Cord Injuries: Lifelong paralysis or mobility issues requiring equipment and ongoing care.
- Traumatic Brain Injuries: Rehabilitation, mental health support, and potential for cognitive decline over time.
- Severe Orthopedic Injuries: Joint replacements, multiple surgeries, and chronic pain treatment.
- Burn Injuries: Reconstructive surgeries, scar management, and specialized therapies.
- Amputations: Prosthetic replacements every few years, plus physical therapy.
These aren’t rare “what-ifs.” They’re realities for many Arizona accident victims.
How Jeff Gould Law Protects Your Future
Calculating future care costs requires more than math; it requires strategy and advocacy. At Jeff Gould Law, we:
- Work with your medical team to project realistic future needs.
- Partner with financial experts to translate those needs into concrete dollar amounts.
- Push back on insurance companies that try to undervalue or ignore future care.
- Present your case in a way that highlights not only the medical costs but also the human cost of living with an injury.
Our role is to ensure you aren’t left covering expenses for an accident you didn’t cause. If you or a loved one has suffered a serious injury in Arizona, don’t make the mistake of settling too soon or for too little. Protect your rights, your health, and your financial future…
Don’t DELAY: Call Jeff GOULD Law, the Attorney In YOUR Corner – TODAY!
DISCLAIMER: The information on this blog/site is not intended to be legal advice. It is for general informational use only. You should consult an attorney for advice regarding your situation. Further, this information does not create an attorney-client relationship.