What Is an Essential Services Claim?
When a negligent driver runs a red light on Kellogg Avenue in Wichita or a distracted motorist causes a pile-up on I-70 near Topeka, victims are understandably concerned about their visible injuries. However, for many families, the disruption goes beyond medical bills and vehicle damage. If the injured person was responsible for maintaining the household, their inability to perform these tasks creates a real financial and emotional burden. This is where a claim for loss of essential services becomes critical. The personal injury attorneys at Patterson Legal Group explain what essential services are and how to get full compensation after an accident.
What Are Essential Services?
Essential services refer to the tasks an injured person can no longer perform due to their accident-related injuries. These are the daily activities that keep a household running smoothly. Common examples include:
- Home and Yard Maintenance: Mowing the lawn in Garden City, shoveling snow, painting, or making minor plumbing repairs.
- Child and Dependent Care: Transporting children to school and activities, helping with homework, or caring for an elderly parent.
- Household Management: Deep cleaning, grocery shopping, cooking meals, and running errands.
- Vehicle Maintenance: Changing oil, rotating tires, or performing other routine upkeep on family cars.
If you or someone in your family can no longer perform these duties because of injuries caused by someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to financial compensation.
Is Loss of Essential Services Covered Under Most Insurance Policies?
This type of claim typically falls under the liability coverage of the at-fault driver’s insurance policy. If a reckless driver caused the crash, their bodily injury liability coverage is the primary source for compensating you for all accident-related damages, including the loss of essential services.
Proving this loss requires showing that the services were regularly performed by the injured person and that they are now unable to do so. Insurance adjusters often resist paying for these losses unless they are presented with clear evidence. Patterson Legal Group’s Kansas injury lawyers have extensive experience providing irrefutable evidence that helps their clients receive the highest compensation possible.
How is Loss of Essential Services Calculated?
Placing a dollar amount on household tasks is challenging but necessary. Insurance companies use several methods to calculate these damages:
- Replacement Cost Method: This calculates what it would cost to hire someone locally to perform each specific task. For example, the hourly rate for a lawn care service in Wichita or a cleaning service in Topeka.
- Lost Wage Proxy: If the injured person had to reduce their work hours to attempt to handle these tasks, or if another family member had to miss work to fill the gap, those lost wages can be factored in.
- Duration and Frequency: A detailed log of how often the injured person performed each task before the accident and how long their recovery is expected to last helps determine the total loss.
How Can a Personal Injury Lawyer Help Prove My Claim?
Getting full and fair compensation for loss of essential services requires strong documentation and a clear narrative. Patterson Legal Group’s experienced Kansas injury lawyers can assist by:
- Gathering Detailed Witness Statements: Testimony from family members, neighbors, and coworkers about the injured person’s role in the household.
- Creating a Service Log: Working with the family to document every task that is now being left undone or performed by someone else.
- Consulting with Economists or Life Care Planners: Using professionals to calculate the long-term financial impact of the lost services, especially if catastrophic injuries are suffered.
- Negotiating Aggressively with Insurers: Presenting a compelling package of evidence to counter an insurance company’s attempt to undervalue or deny this portion of the claim.
- Preparing for Trial if Necessary: If a fair settlement cannot be reached, presenting the case to a jury in Garden City or the surrounding county to seek full compensation.
Contact a Trusted Kansas Personal Injury Lawyer
The personal injury attorneys at Patterson Legal Group understand that a serious injury affects every part of your life, not just your medical health. We work to ensure that your claim for loss of essential services is fully developed and presented. If you have been injured in a car crash caused by another driver’s negligence or recklessness on Kansas roads, contact us today. Let our Kansas injury lawyers evaluate your case–free of charge–and explain the full range of compensation you may be entitled to pursue, including these often-overlooked but vital household damages.
Patterson Legal Group is available to serve you 24/7 by phone at (888) 687-2400. If you prefer online contact, you can also reach us by speaking with our LiveChat representatives or through our secure contact form. Our skilled trial lawyers have recovered outstanding settlements for injury victims throughout Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Colorado. Reach out to us today to get the legal representation you deserve.
