If someone hits a horse in the road with his car and the horseowner had property insurance that settled the damage for the car, what about the medical bills?
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If someone hits a horse in the road with his car and the horseowner had property insurance that settled the damage for the car, what about the medical bills?
My 16 year old son was driving. The medical bills are in excess of my policy limits. He had a separated shoulder, 3 small scars on his face and scarring on the back of his arm, 4 weeks of physical therapy, released but still has some strength issues. He is expected to recover completely. How do I figure a dollar value for the settlement?
Asked on December 5, 2011 under Personal Injury, Florida
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 13 years ago | Contributor
1) If someone is at fault in causing an accident, you may sue them for damages, including medical costs. The fact that they do not have insurance, or insurance for that type of loss or injury, does not mean they can't be sued--it just means that there is no insurance to pay any judgment, and if you win, you have to collect directly from the defendant. This can be problematic in the event of defendants with low income and few assets. The critical issue is fault--you can only recover in a lawsuit if the other party was at fault, such as being unreasonably careless.
2) A reasonable settlement would be: a) your out-of-pocket or unreimbursed medical bills, both current and projected future (e.g. if there is going to be follow-up, additional surgery, physical therapy, etc.; and b) in the event of lingering loss of strength or function, or lingering scars, some amount for pain and suffering. Valuing pain and suffering is an art, not a science; if ultimately your son will recover fully, but has experienced some weeks or months of weakness and pain, plus will have some scaring, a reasonable amount might be equal to your out-of-pocket medical bills.
However, be prepared to accept less if you can get it quickly, without the cost and time of litigation.
Ideally, since valuing recovery for injuries like this is so difficult, you should consult with a personal injury attorney to see what you and your son might be entitled to. Good luck.
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