What Counts as an Out-of-Pocket Expense?
Out-of-pocket expenses are any costs that you’ve personally paid because of your injury. These costs aren’t theoretical or speculative; they’re real, documented payments made as a direct result of someone else’s negligence. While they might look different from one case to the next, they tend to fall into certain categories.
Medical Expenses
Medical bills often make up the largest category of out-of-pocket costs, especially when insurance doesn’t cover everything (which is often the case).
After an injury, you might have significant out-of-pocket medical expenses for things like:
- Insurance deductibles and co-pays
- Prescription medications
- Over-the-counter medical supplies
- Medical equipment, like crutches, walkers, wheelchairs, or braces
- Physical therapy and rehabilitation services
- Chiropractic care, acupuncture, or other alternative treatments
- Specialist consultations not covered by insurance
Even if insurance paid part of your medical care, anything you personally had to pay can typically be claimed in your personal injury case, meaning you could be eligible for compensation.
Transportation Costs
Getting to and from medical appointments can be expensive, especially if your injury requires frequent visits to doctors, therapists, or specialists. In a personal injury claim, you might be able to recover compensation for out-of-pocket transportation costs related to your medical care.
This might include things like:
- Mileage driven for medical appointments (based on the IRS mileage rate)
- Parking fees at hospitals or clinics
- Public transportation fares
- Rideshare or taxi costs for treatment-related travel
- Airfare and lodging for out-of-town specialist care
If your injury makes it harder to drive or requires long-distance travel for proper treatment, those costs can (and should) be factored into your claim. It's important to keep detailed records of your travel expenses and any transportation-related costs related to your injury that you have personally paid.
Home & Vehicle Modifications
Some injuries make everyday living more difficult or even impossible without changes to your home or car. In serious injury cases, these modifications are often necessary for independence and mobility.
You could be able to recover compensation for expenses related to modifications such as:
- Wheelchair ramps or stair lifts
- Widened doorways or remodeled bathrooms for accessibility
- Shower bars, non-slip flooring, or lowered counters
- Hand controls or adaptive devices for vehicles
- Lifts or specialized seating in vans or SUVs
These are not luxuries; they are medical necessities that allow injury survivors to function safely and more independently at home and on the road.
Personal Care & Household Help
When your injury prevents you from taking care of yourself or your home, hiring help may be your only option. These costs are considered out-of-pocket expenses if they arise directly from your condition.
This can include:
- In-home personal care assistance
- Housecleaning services
- Yard maintenance
- Childcare costs
- Help with grocery shopping, meal preparation, or transportation
Even if a friend or family member helps you, any costs you incur as a result of that care (such as hiring someone to replace them or reimbursing them for expenses) can often be recovered.
Miscellaneous Costs Related to Your Injury
Some expenses don’t fall into neat categories, but they still matter. As long as you can prove that they’re connected to your injury, they may be included in your case.
Miscellaneous out-of-pocket expenses can look like:
- Temporary lodging if you’re unable to stay at home after the accident
- Replacement of damaged personal property (e.g., broken eyeglasses, phones, or clothing)
- Meals or hotel stays during out-of-town medical care
- Costs for legal document retrieval, medical records, or notarization
Why Documentation Is Key
To recover out-of-pocket expenses, you have to prove them. That’s why it’s so important to keep detailed, organized records from the start of your recovery.
We recommend that you:
- Save every receipt, bill, or invoice
- Maintain a mileage log for all medical-related travel
- Record dates, times, and locations of appointments
- Track payments made to caregivers, service providers, or transportation services
- Take photos of home modifications or medical devices purchased
Even small expenses can add up over time, and good documentation can make a major difference in how much you are able to recover in compensation.
Let Arnold & Itkin Help You Recover Every Dollar You Deserve
After a serious injury, every expense matters. And while medical bills and lost wages are often the focus of a personal injury claim, miscellaneous out-of-pocket costs are just as real—and just as important. At Arnold & Itkin, we fight to make sure our clients are made fully whole, not just for their medical treatment, but for every financial loss they’ve experienced. This includes the daily, personal costs that often go overlooked.
We’ve recovered billions of dollars for people whose lives were turned upside down by workplace injuries, offshore accidents, truck crashes, and other preventable tragedies. When you hire us, you don’t pay anything unless we win, and we don’t stop until we’ve recovered everything you’re owed. Get in touch with us today to learn how our personal injury lawyers can help you seek fair compensation for your out-of-pocket expenses and other damages.
Contact us today for a free consultation. We’re here to answer your questions, explain your rights, and make sure you’re not left paying for someone else’s mistakes.
