Depending on the severity of the injuries you incurred after a personal injury accident, you may have to go to frequent and plentiful doctor’s appointments, physical therapy sessions, mental health counseling, etc. These out-of-pocket medical expenses may already be financially taxing for you. But this is not to mention the monetary toll of commuting to all these appointments, which may add up quicker than you think. Well, if you are feeling the effects of this, please continue reading to learn whether you can be compensated for the travel expenses associated with attending your medical appointments and how an experienced Pasco County personal injury lawyer at Merricks Law Group, P.A., can help you get coverage at any capacity.
What are the travel costs likely associated with attending medical appointments?
When you deeply consider it, your travel costs may be quite expensive. This is especially unfair because you would not have had to incur this expense if you had never gotten injured in a personal injury accident in the first place. With that said, you may be valid in citing travel expenses as a type of economic damage in your injury claim. Here, you may claim the following costs:
- The cost of public transportation, taxi, or ride-share services to get to your medical appointments.
- The cost of refilling your tank with gasoline to drive yourself to and from your medical appointments.
- The cost of tolls on the roads between your residence and the medical facility where your appointments are.
- The cost of parking in a private lot or at a metered space at the medical facility where your appointments are.
- The cost of needing vehicle repairs or inspections more frequently after driving yourself to your medical appointments.
How can I be compensated for travel expenses to medical appointments in an injury claim?
You must understand that the court will not order the defendant to pay for all your travel expenses since the accident. That is, they may only be held responsible for the costs directly associated with commuting to and from your medical appointments. This may require clear and detailed evidence on your end.
For one, you may have to record the vehicle mileage you start with at your residence, and then the number you end with at the medical facility where your appointment is. This may be in addition to documenting the average miles per gallon your vehicle make and model gets, along with the average cost of regular gas per gallon in your area.
Also, if you do drive yourself, it might be better to go through the ticketed toll booths and collect your receipts from your commute. And also, the receipts from the private parking lot or a picture of the metered spot you typically park in. If you do not drive yourself, then keep your bus tickets, the receipt of your paid cab fare, the receipt of your rideshare order, etc.
Before you step into a Florida civil courtroom, you must seek a skilled Pasco County personal injury lawyer to stand by your side. Please contact our office, Merricks Law Group, P.A., as soon as you are ready.