If you were recently in an accident and needed physical therapy, you might be wondering what kind of compensation to expect. For most accident victims, the settlement amount depends on several different factors, including the length of physical therapy.
Whether your therapy sessions lasted three months or more, you may be curious how that could affect your payout. Keep reading to find out what physical therapy settlement amounts usually look like.
Key Takeaways
- For most accidents involving physcial therapy, settlement amounts typically range from $10,000 to $30,000, with more severe cases ranging from $60,000 to $100,000 or even higher.
- Physical therapy often raises settlement amounts by several hundred to several thousand dollars.
- Your settlement value depends on factors like injury severity, evidence of injury, future medical needs, and the quality of your legal representation.
- A personal injury lawyer can help you manage your case and fight for whatever compensation you may be entitled to.
Average Settlements for Physical Therapy
After an injury, working with a physical therapist is sometimes essential for relieving pain or improving or restoring mobility, agility, and function. While there isn’t specific data for physical therapy settlements, we can look at how much different types of accident claims are usually worth in Texas and how physical therapy expenses can impact that amount in your case. Here are some average settlement ranges for physical therapy cases:
- Car Accident Claims – Car accident cases that involve about three months of physical therapy usually settle for between $10,000 and $25,000. A six-month physical therapy car accident settlement often falls between $20,000 to over $50,000. Minor whiplash injuries that need physical therapy are often settled between $5,000 and $30,000, but moderate to severe whiplash settlements can range from $30,000 to more than $100,000.
- Workplace Injuries – The average settlement for work-related injuries that require physical therapy is between about $10,000 and $30,000 for mild cases. More serious injuries needing several months of therapy can reach $60,000 or more.
- Cruise Injuries – Average settlements for this type of injury range from $20,000 to $75,000, but serious cases with surgery or long-term rehab can range from $100,000 to $300,000 or more if clear negligence is proven.
- Slip and Fall – If short-term therapy is required, settlement is typically between $5,000 and $25,000, while moderate cases with longer recovery periods can range from $25,000 to $60,000. Severe injuries involving surgery or long-term disability may exceed $100,000.
How Much Physical Therapy Increases Settlements
If you need physical therapy after an accident, your settlement value will generally increase by hundreds or thousands of dollars, with some cases seeing increases of tens of thousands of dollars for long-term rehab. The increase depends on how much physical therapy you need.
Key Factors Affecting Your Settlement
When it comes to the value of your settlement, several factors play a role in the amount you’re ultimately likely to receive. When estimating your settlement amount, you and your attorney can keep these aspects in mind. Some factors that can affect the value of your settlement include:
Severity of the Injury
More severe injuries usually result in higher settlements because they require more medical care and longer recovery time. For example, someone with a minor soft tissue injury will likely get less compensation than a person with a spinal or shoulder injury.
Proof of Injury
To get fair compensation, you need clear evidence of your injury. This can include things like diagnostic imaging, test results, or therapist reports. When your medical records clearly show that the at-fault party caused your injury and physical therapy was recommended, it's much easier to support your case.
Impact on Daily Life and Employment
If an injury affects your ability to work, perform daily activities, or enjoy your usual lifestyle, that impact is reflected in the settlement amount. Showing clear proof of lost wages and how the injury has changed your routine or reduced your income potential can help you receive higher damages. Factors such as chronic pain that impact quality of life may also be considered.
Future Medical Needs
When your condition requires continued treatment, such as additional physical therapy sessions, surgery, or pain management, the cost of future care can be included in your claim. Your ongoing treatment plan may significantly impact your financial compensation.
Quality of Legal Representation
An experienced physical therapy settlement lawyer can improve the outcome of your case. They can ensure your medical records are properly presented, losses are fully compensated, and negotiations with insurance companies are handled strategically.
How Physical Therapy Can Affect the Settlement Process: Maximum Medical Improvement
Settlements after an accident can take anywhere from a few months to over a year, depending on how complicated your case is. But if your doctor prescribes physical therapy, the process may take a little longer. That’s because your lawyer will likely advise you to wait until you reach Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI) before settling.
MMI simply means you’ve healed as much as possible with treatment, and your condition is unlikely to change much. You're usually advised to wait until this point to make sure your settlement covers all your medical needs and not just the ones that show up right after the accident. If you rush to settle before reaching MMI, you might miss out on compensation for future therapy sessions or complications that appear later.
You might be wondering how you'll cover medical expenses while you wait. Many healthcare providers accept medical liens, which means they won't collect payment until your settlement is finalized. Aside from working with healthcare providers, your personal injury attorney can walk you through other options to manage your medical costs while your claim is still being processed.
Do You Need a Law Firm To Recover Compensation for Physical Therapy Cases?
Recovering compensation after an accident that requires physical therapy can feel overwhelming. The medical bills add up quickly, insurance rules can be confusing, and dealing with the stress of a physical injury makes it even harder to handle the whole process.
To make matters worse, insurance companies often have experienced lawyers working to reduce how much they pay. All these challenges are exactly why you need a personal injury attorney.
Here's what a personal injury lawyer can do for you:
- An experienced injury lawyer can help investigate your case and gather relevant evidence.
- An experienced lawyer can help defend your personal injury claim and develop a strategy to strengthen your case.
- Your lawyer can help handle all the necessary paperwork and make sure you meet the required deadlines.
- Your attorney will help you negotiate with the insurance company to get the compensation you deserve.
- If negotiations don’t lead to a fair settlement, an experienced car accident lawyer can take your case to trial and represent you in court.
Get the Right Legal Support for Your Physical Therapy Case
After an accident that leads to 3 months or more of physical therapy, it’s easy to feel weighed down by growing medical bills and confusing health insurance paperwork. You shouldn’t have to face all that alone while trying to recover. Having the right legal support ensures your case is handled properly.
An experienced New Orleans personal injury lawyer at Cardone Law Firm can support you. Attorney Cliff Cardone understands how to build a strong case that reflects your medical treatment and long-term recovery needs. We handle the legal side so you can focus on healing. Schedule your free initial consultation with us today.
If you’ve been injured and needed physical therapy, our team at Cardone Law Firm can help you pursue fair compensation.