Personal Injury Damages: Compensation for Ambulance Fees
The Oklahoma City personal injury lawyers of Tawwater Law Firm, PLLC fight diligently for their clients in every case. We believe in justice and fairness, and it's a driving principle for our attorneys when working with our clients. Severe injuries and catastrophic accidents should not deprive people of their dignity, and the people responsible for these harmful incidents should be responsible for their negligent actions.
Following a major accident, it's not uncommon for an ambulance and EMTs to arrive at the scene and administer crucial, life-saving medical care. This comes with a cost, however. Let's take a moment to consider ambulance fees and how personal injury lawyers address these bills during a legal case.
The Cost of Ambulances and Emergency Response
While ambulance rides and emergency medical services can save lives, they can potentially break the bank. The average cost of an ambulance ride typically costs around $900 to $1,3000. Emergency Medical Services Authority (EMSA) has helped address these costs for many people in Oklahoma, yet not everyone is enrolled or participates in the program.
When you consider the cost of an ambulance as well as the cost of medical treatments needed after a catastrophic accident or severe injury, these emergency hospital bills can stack up.
Injury and Accident Victims Are Left with the Bill
The most unfortunate thing about major medical bills is that you are left saddled with them. Depending on your injuries, you could owe thousands of dollars for the treatment you received, and your insurance may not be able to cover it. People may wind up deeply in debt because of an accident that occurred through no fault of their own.
The health care and medical insurance system is unfair in many ways. Legal damages in civil lawsuits can help address the unfortunate imperfections in our current medical care system.
How Damages Work in Personal Injury Lawsuits
Damages are a monetary award sought by injury victims in personal injury lawsuits. These damages are intended to cover a number of expenses and hardships that arose as a direct result of the injuries and losses cause by an accident or act of negligence.
Compensatory Damages Explained
There are two kinds of damages: compensatory and punitive. Our focus with regard to covering ambulance fees is compensatory damages. Compensatory damages are intended to cover losses directly related to incident that occurred. This means covering ambulance fees, medical bills, and the cost of physical rehabilitation. Compensatory damages can also cover any related damage to property, lost wages, loss of future income, legal fees, and mental health counseling for particularly traumatic incidents.
Holding the Negligent Party Accountable
Ultimately, these damages are meant to hold negligent parties accountable for their actions when said actions cause harm to others. By making these negligent parties pay for an injury victim's medical bills and losses, the legal system tries to help ensure a fairer and more balanced society.
From just a personal and practical standpoint, legal damages can offer peace of mind and a sense of justice. They are a major relief to people who've had to ensure financial hardships as a direct result of someone else's reckless or harmful behavior.
Speak with Experienced Personal Injury Lawyers
If you would like more information about your legal rights and options after a major injury or accident of any kind, be sure to contact the personal injury lawyers at our law firm today. The attorneys at Tawwater Law Firm, PLLC will work with you to help ensure justice and fairness in the legal system.