Can You Be Re Imbursed for Out of Pocket Expenses Before Final Settlement

A successful personal injury or other accident claim results in the injured person being paid for damages caused by the injury. Damages include medical bills, lost wages, the pain and suffering including anxiety and depression the injured person sustains, and out-of-pocket expenses. Typical examples of out-of-pocket expenses include health insurance co-pays, rental car fees if your automobile is out of service, replacing a cell-phone or laptop damaged in a car accident, or paying for a hotel room if your home is made uninhabitable.

Asking For Reimbursement Before Final Settlement

Before reaching a final settlement – especially in cases where an insurance company has accepted liability – it is possible to be reimbursed for out-of-pocket expenses. There is no guarantee that you will be paid for out-of-pocket expenses, but it never hurts to ask. When an opposing insurance company has already accepted liability, meaning they have already agreed that they owe you or your insurance company money, they may wish to avoid time-consuming and costly litigation by honoring your demands.

Maintain Records of All Your Expenses

In any type of accident, regardless of your plan to ask for out-of-pocket expenses, it is important to diligently keep track of all the expenses you pay because of the accident. Organize and maintain your medical records, invoices, and associated receipts so that you can prove what your out-of-pocket expenses have been. Eventually, you will make a demand for final settlement. This is often done through a demand letter. In your demand letter you will list all of your damages one-by-one and maintaining these records will make your demands stronger.