Can You Recover Compensation for Future Medical Care Through a Florida UM/UIM Claim?
A Florida car accident can leave you with injuries that require medical treatment long after the crash. Surgeries, physical therapy, rehabilitation, prescription medications, and ongoing specialist visits can quickly become overwhelming expenses. If the at-fault driver has little or no liability insurance, you may wonder whether your uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage can help pay for future medical care.
Most of the time, the answer is yes. Florida’s UM/UIM coverage is meant to protect individuals when the at-fault party can’t completely cover their losses. If you think your injuries will need ongoing treatment, you might be able to claim those future medical costs in your UM/UIM case.
What Is Future Medical Care?
Future medical care refers to the reasonable and necessary treatment you are expected to need after your claim is resolved. Depending on the severity of your injuries, these expenses may include:
- Additional procedures
- Therapy
- Pain management treatment
- Prescription medications
- Diagnostic imaging and follow-up testing
- Medical equipment or assistive devices
- Long-term rehabilitation
- In-home nursing or personal care services
Because these costs have not yet been incurred, they must typically be supported by medical evidence rather than speculation.
When Can UM/UIM Coverage Pay for Future Medical Expenses?
Florida UM/UIM coverage generally allows you to seek compensation for damages you could have recovered from the at-fault driver if adequate liability insurance had been available. That can include both current and future medical expenses resulting from the accident.
However, simply stating that additional treatment may be necessary is usually not enough. Insurance companies often require objective evidence showing that future care is medically probable and reasonably related to the crash.
Proving Future Medical Costs
One of the most important parts of a UM/UIM claim involving future medical care is documentation.
Your attorney may rely on evidence such as:
- Medical records documenting your injuries
- Doctors’ opinions
- Specialist evaluations
- Surgical recommendations
- Rehabilitation plans
- Life-care planning reports
This evidence helps establish both the necessity of future treatment and the estimated cost of that care.
Why Insurance Companies Often Dispute Future Medical Damages
Unlike bills you have already received, future medical expenses involve projections. Because of this, insurance companies frequently question whether future treatment is truly necessary or whether the projected costs are reasonable.
An insurer may argue that:
- Your condition will improve without additional treatment.
- The recommended care is unrelated to the accident.
- Your physician’s opinion is speculative.
- Less expensive treatment options are available.
Proper medical documentation and expert testimony can be essential to addressing these arguments.
Why You Should Hire an Attorney
UM/UIM claims are filed against your own insurance company, but that does not always mean the claim will be straightforward. The insurer still has a financial interest in limiting what it pays, especially when future medical expenses significantly increase the value of the claim.
An experienced attorney can gather medical evidence, work with qualified experts, negotiate with the insurance company, and pursue full compensation for both your current losses and the care you are reasonably expected to need in the future.
Disclaimer: This article is for general informational purposes. It is not legal advice. Every Florida UM/UIM claim is unique. It’s best to speak to an attorney about your specific case.
Contact Us for Legal Help
If you expect ongoing medical treatment after a Florida car accident involving an uninsured or underinsured driver, contact an experienced Orlando car accident attorney at Orlando Accident Attorneys today. We can help protect your rights and pursue compensation for all your damages.