Being involved in a car accident is no minor thing. To start with, you might feel a plethora of emotions from anger to depression to fear for your future. Unfortunately, you might not have time to sit and deal with your emotions, as medical bills may start coming due and other bills may need to be paid at a time when you are incapable of working and earning a wage. To give you an idea of just how damaging an auto accident can be to your finances, we wanted to dedicate this week’s post to looking at the average cost of a hospital stay.
According to the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project, in 2010 the average cost of a hospital stay was nearly $10,000. Though this number includes those hospital stays not related to car accidents, such as those who have suffered septicemia, those who need to stay in the hospital for any length of time can expect to see a hefty bill, as the daily rate for inpatient care can be well over $1,000.
The exact cost of your hospital stay following an accident may be significantly more depending on the type and extent of care you need. For example, if you need a complicated surgery, then your hospital bill may skyrocket. Also, though the average hospital stay is nearly $10,000 that does not take into account medical expenses related to follow up care.
This damage, when taken together with lost wages, may leave you in financial trouble. That is why it is important for you to consider taking legal action if your injuries were caused by the negligence of another. If you choose, an experienced California personal injury attorney may be able to help you recover the compensation you need to regain your financial footing.
Source: The American Bar Association, “Loss of Consortium: When Should You Bring the Claim?” Patricia Zimmer, accessed on July 3, 2015