Can I recover out-of-pocket costs like medical travel and equipment in Georgia?

· 3 min read

Yes. Reasonable out-of-pocket expenses that flow from an injury, including travel to medical care and the cost of necessary medical equipment, can be part of a Georgia damages claim. These are economic losses, and Georgia law lets an injured person recover the necessary expenses caused by another’s wrongdoing when they are proven.

These costs are recoverable special damages

Georgia treats expenses that actually flow from a tortious act as special damages, which must be proved to be recovered. Out-of-pocket costs fit this description. So long as they are reasonable, necessary, and tied to the injury, items like the following may be claimed:

  • Mileage or transportation costs for traveling to appointments, therapy, and treatment.
  • Medical devices and equipment such as crutches, braces, a wheelchair, or home medical supplies.
  • Prescription and over-the-counter medication costs related to the injury.
  • Modifications or aids reasonably required because of the injury.

The unifying thread is causation and reasonableness. The expense must be a genuine consequence of the injury, and the amount must be reasonable rather than inflated. Costs that are unrelated to the injury, or that go beyond what the injury reasonably required, fall outside the claim.

Proving and documenting the expenses

Because special damages must be established, documentation carries the claim. Keeping records helps demonstrate both that the cost was incurred and that it was reasonable:

  • Receipts, invoices, and proof of payment for equipment and supplies.
  • A travel log showing dates, destinations, and distances for medical trips.
  • Provider records connecting the equipment or travel to the prescribed treatment.

For expenses expected to continue, such as ongoing supplies or future equipment replacement, the claimant generally needs evidence of the reasonable future cost and duration. Future economic items may also be reduced to present value, which Georgia law allows the trier of fact to do at a 5 percent discount rate or another rate it finds appropriate. The treatment of payments from insurance or other outside sources has shifted: Georgia’s 2025 tort-reform law (SB 68) narrowed the traditional collateral source rule, so how such payments affect a damages award now depends on the timing and circumstances of the case.

The bottom line

In Georgia, reasonable injury-related out-of-pocket expenses, including medical travel and necessary equipment, are recoverable as special damages. The key is showing they were caused by the injury, were reasonable in amount, and are backed by documentation, with future costs supported by evidence and, where they extend forward, valued in present-day terms.

This article is for general educational and informational purposes only and is not legal advice. It does not create an attorney-client relationship, and Georgia law may change. For advice about a specific situation, consult a licensed Georgia personal injury attorney.

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