Can Home Renovations Be Covered in a Personal Injury Case?

 Posted on December 16, 2024 in Personal Injury

Being severely injured in an accident can affect every aspect of your life, including your ability to live comfortably in your own home. Some injuries require home modifications to make living spaces safe and accessible for the people living in them. If you need such home modifications because of an injury that someone else caused, should you be left needing to cover the cost?

In California, home renovations that are necessary because of injuries from an accident can often be covered in a personal injury case. Of course, every situation is different and whether such costs will be covered depends on the specific details of your case. If you wonder whether home renovations can be included in your case, speak with an experienced, Los Angeles, CA personal injury lawyer to learn more.

What Are Injury-Related Home Renovations?

Home renovations related to an injury are changes made in your living space so you can live more easily and safely while recovering. They might also be necessary as you adapt to a permanent disability. Modifications commonly made to homes to accommodate injuries include:

• Installing wheelchair ramps

• Widening doorways for mobility devices

• Adding grab bars or railings in bathrooms

• Lowering countertops, sinks, and kitchen appliances

• Installing stair lifts or elevators

• Modifying showers to make them wheelchair-accessible

These changes can be essential for someone recovering from a serious injury or living with long-term physical limitations. While some of them might not be considered expensive on their own, the prices can add up quickly when you need to make several modifications.

How Can Home Renovations Be Part of a Personal Injury Case?

During a personal injury case, you may be able to recover compensation for costs related to your injuries. This compensation is referred to as "damages." If your injuries require home modifications, you might include those costs as part of your claim. To do so, you need to demonstrate that:

• The renovations are necessary: The changes must be directly related to your injury and not to any necessity you had before the accident. For example, if you suffered a spinal cord injury and now use a wheelchair, you need to show that a wheelchair ramp or widened doorways are physically necessary for you to move around your home.

• The costs are reasonable: The court will only award compensation for necessary and reasonable expenses. Luxury upgrades will likely not be covered, but basic modifications might be.

What Evidence Do You Need?

To include home renovations in your personal injury case, you need evidence proving why they are necessary. This may include:

• Medical records explaining your injuries and the limitations they create.

• Recommendations from healthcare providers explaining why the renovations are necessary.

• Estimates or invoices from contractors to show the expected or actual costs of the modifications.

• Photos of your home before and after the modifications, which can illustrate why the changes were necessary.

Schedule a Free Consultation with a Glendale, CA Personal Injury Lawyer

If the injuries you suffered in an accident make your home hard for you to live in, a qualified LA County, CA personal injury attorney can review your case and advise you on whether you can include home modifications to your claims. In California, injury-related home renovations can be covered in a personal injury case if they are necessary and reasonable. At Tahmazian Law Firm, P.C., we have experience helping our clients get maximum compensation and we are dedicated to getting you the best outcome possible. Call us at 818-242-8201 to schedule a free consultation.