My treating doctor has told me that I will need years of treatment for my injuries and probably will need additional surgical procedures years down the road. I do not know if I can return to work. I get my health insurance through my employer. How am I supposed to pay for these medical expenses in the future, and is there a way for me to get compensated for future medical expenses in a lawsuit now?

A: One of the most important aspects of our jobs as personal injury attorneys is to determine what our clients' future medical needs will be as a result of the accident, and how much that will cost. This requires us to work carefully with your treating physicians and, very often, with specially retained experts who are able to gauge what the client's future needs will be based upon the nature of the injuries and the condition of the client at the time of the evaluation. The cost of that future treatment is also included in the expert    evaluation. These costs include such things as future therapy, future surgical procedures, all future medication that may be needed, hospitalizations, nursing home care, alterations to one's home, the purchase of special vehicles for the client, etc. This information then becomes a part of the evidence which we present in the case on behalf of our client. Properly developing and documenting future medical needs is a vital part of what we do.