Out-of-pocket costs you can claim

Out-of-pocket costs are the everyday expenses a road accident causes that are easy to forget once the bigger bills are paid. Each one is generally recoverable as special damages, if you can show it with a receipt or record.^[1] Small costs add up.

Costs people often forget to claim

• Parking fees at the hospital or clinic during treatment.
• Over-the-counter medication or dressings not covered by the hospital.
• A damaged phone, watch, helmet or clothing worn during the accident.
• Cleaning or repair costs for items damaged in the crash.
• The cost of obtaining copies of medical records or reports.
• Reasonable transport costs for someone accompanying you to treatment, where genuinely needed.

Why claim small costs?

Each one is small, but together they are real money spent because of the accident. Leaving them out means leaving provable losses unclaimed.

How are they different from medical bills?

Medical bills are usually the largest item within special damages. Out-of-pocket costs are the smaller everyday expenses around treatment.

How do you keep track?

Keeping receipts for your claim covers a simple system. Record each cost the same day it happens, not weeks later from memory.

What to do next

Special damages explains the legal category these costs sit within. How compensation is worked out shows where they fit among the other heads of loss in a road accident claim.

An independent lawyer can list these costs in your claim when acting for you. Send the accident date, where it happened, whether anyone was injured (yes/no) and the police report status.